Why India Slips to 131 in Global Gender Equality Rankings: Sample Q&A

Why This Report Matters for Exams
Released annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF) since 2006.
Tracks gender parity across 4 pillars:
Economic Participation & Opportunity
Educational Attainment
Health & Survival
Political Empowerment
Scores range from 0 (inequality) to 1 (full parity).

5 Critical Findings from 2025 Edition
Global Snapshot:
Gender gap narrowed to 68.8% – the fastest post-COVID progress.
Full equality will take 123 years at current rates.
Iceland leads (92.6% parity) for the 16th year; Pakistan ranks last (148th).

India’s Troubling Position:
Ranked 131/148 (down 2 spots from 2024).
Regional contrast: Bangladesh (24th), Maldives (138th), Pakistan (148th).
Overall score: 64.1% – among South Asia’s lowest.

India’s Pillar-Wise Performance:
Economic Participation: 40.7% (Rank 144) – slight income parity improvement.
Education: 97.1% (Rank 110) – gains in female literacy & enrolment.
Health: 95.4% (Rank 143) – better sex ratio but low healthy life expectancy.
Political Empowerment: 24.5% (Rank 69) – decline in women MPs (13.8%) and ministers (5.6%).
Silver Linings:
Absolute score improved by +0.3 points since 2024.
Progress in birth sex ratio and tertiary education access.
Other Key Indices:
GII (UNDP): India ranks 102/172 (Score: 0.403).
GDI (UNDP): India scores 0.874 (Female HDI: 0.631 vs Male: 0.722).
WEI (UN Women): India at 0.52 (empowerment gap).

Why UPSC Asks About These Reports
Tests analytical skills on social issues.
Evaluates understanding of governance challenges.
Provides data to substantiate arguments in essays (e.g., “Women-led development”).
 

Sample Q&A for Exam Prep
Q1: What does India’s 131st rank in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Index signify?
A: It reflects severe gender inequality, placing India among South Asia’s lowest performers despite marginal score improvements.
Q2: Which pillar drags India’s gender parity score the most?
A: Economic Participation (40.7%), where India ranks 144th globally due to income gaps and low leadership roles for women.
Q3: Name two UNDP indices measuring gender inequality.
A: Gender Inequality Index (GII) and Gender Development Index (GDI), both tracking health, education, and economic disparities.
Q4: Why did India’s political empowerment score decline in 2025?
A: Reduced women’s representation in Parliament (13.8%) and ministerial roles (5.6%) – lowest since 2023.
Q5: Which country has consistently topped the Gender Gap Index?
A: Iceland, achieving 92.6% parity in 2025 – the only nation to cross 90%.