India’s Progress in Advancing Gender Equality
India’s Progress in Women’s Health, Education, and Empowerment Since the Beijing Declaration
1. Advancements in Women’s Health and Education
Maternal and Child Health
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) reduced from 130 to 97 per 1,00,000 live births (2014–2020), aided by schemes like:
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
• Institutional deliveries increased to 95%, ensuring safer childbirth.
• 56.5% of married women use modern contraceptives, promoting reproductive health.
• Ayushman Bharat has provided free healthcare to millions of women.
Education and Gender Equality in Learning
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao improved the child sex ratio and increased girls’ school enrollments.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 boosted STEM education for girls, fostering career opportunities in science and technology.
• Improved sanitation facilities have reduced menstruation-related school absenteeism among girls.
2. Women’s Economic Empowerment
Financial Inclusion and Digital Access
• Nearly 100 million women connected to financial systems through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under:
• National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)
• National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM)
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has simplified digital transactions, enhancing women’s financial independence.
• Over 35 million rural women trained in digital literacy under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA).
Budgetary and Entrepreneurial Support
• Gender Budgeting allocation increased from 6.8% in 2024-25 to 8.8% in 2025-26, amounting to $55.2 billion for gender-specific programs.
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihood Mission has strengthened women’s financial literacy and access to credit, supporting entrepreneurship.
3. Challenges in Addressing Gender-Based Violence
Persistent Issues
• Gender-based violence remains a significant issue, despite national and global efforts.
• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 strengthens legal protections, but effective implementation remains a challenge.
• 770 One Stop Centres provide essential support, but their reach is limited compared to the scale of the problem.
• Blockchain-based systems in Odisha ensure swift and confidential support, but such coordinated efforts are not widespread nationwide.
• Efforts to improve gender-responsive policing (e.g., Rajasthan Police Academy initiatives) face challenges in building consistent trust with survivors.
4. Women’s Leadership and Its Impact
• The Women’s Reservation Bill ensures 33% legislative seats for women, empowering 1.5 million women political leaders—the world’s largest group of women leaders.
• Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) supports women’s representation in STEM fields.
• The G20 TechEquity platform has trained thousands of young women in emerging technologies, fostering leadership in innovation.
• Women’s leadership is shaping India’s progress in gender equality, social development, and inclusive economic growth.
5. India’s Approach to Achieving Gender Equality
• India follows a multi-pronged strategy that includes:
• Government leadership in policy formulation and implementation.
• International partnerships for gender-focused initiatives.
• Comprehensive policies promoting women-led development.
• Key focus areas:
• Financial inclusion to empower women economically.
• Social transformation through education, health, and leadership opportunities.
• The Beijing Platform for Action continues to guide India’s efforts toward inclusive and sustainable growth, with a focus on addressing systemic barriers and empowering young women leaders.