Why India needs a gender-positive recovery
3 years, 8 months ago

Why India needs a gender-positive recovery

India Today  

Gurgaon-based artist Akanksha Sarkar, 41, has given up taking on freelance projects. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021 estimates that the time it will take to close the global gender gap—in health, education, politics and economics—has increased from 99.5 years to 135.6 years. Home to 650 million women, India has slipped 28 places in the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Index, to 140 of the 156 countries that were ranked. It has brought to fore new challenges when it comes to progress towards gender parity in employment, including exacerbating the ‘double shift’ of work that most women must deal with., 42, who worked in the legal department of a start-up which gave her the flexibility to work from home for three days a week, is another example. The WEF’s Gender Gap Report points out that while the pandemic has affected women adversely in across the globe, the impact has been less in countries where active interventions were made to stem the decline.

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History of this topic

Economic imperative of women’s leadership in India’s private sector
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Economic imperative of women’s leadership in India’s private sector

Hindustan Times  

This decade is widely regarded as India’s, with the country poised to realise its vision of becoming a global economic powerhouse. Central to this transformation is India’s private sector, which plays a pivotal role in driving growth, innovation, and competitiveness, setting the stage for a robust and sustainable economic future. Building a pipeline of women to reach leadership roles can …

India witnesses drastic increase in female labour force participation rate under Modi govt since 2017
2 weeks, 4 days ago

India witnesses drastic increase in female labour force participation rate under Modi govt since 2017

Op India  

In a major development, the female labour force participation rate has witnessed a drastic improvement in the past 5 years. According to a report published by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, rural female LFPR has increased from 24.6% to 41.5% between 2017-2018 and 2022-2023 at the national level. Screengrab of the report by the Economic Advisory Council …

India struggles with limited effectiveness of its gender responsive budgeting: UN Report
1 month ago

India struggles with limited effectiveness of its gender responsive budgeting: UN Report

New Indian Express  

BANGKOK: India struggles with limited effectiveness of its Gender Responsive Budgeting due to the exclusion of key programmes that benefit women and lack of sex-disaggregated data, said a new report. The report which analysed how countries in the region are placed compared to the Sustainability Development Goals adopted in Beijing 30 years back noted the adoption of gender-responsive budgeting by …

India's Gender Imbalance: A Call for Action
1 month, 3 weeks ago

India's Gender Imbalance: A Call for Action

Hindustan Times  

The article provides an overview of the current status of gender equality in India, highlighting both positive and negative developments. It emphasizes the need for addressing deep-rooted cultural norms and systemic barriers to achieve full gender equality. The article outlines various measures that could contribute to achieving this goal, including improving education, reducing child marriage, and empowering women and girls …

145 Million Women: A Crucial Catalyst for India's Economic Growth
1 month, 3 weeks ago

145 Million Women: A Crucial Catalyst for India's Economic Growth

India Today  

The article highlights the crucial need to increase the female labor force participation rate in India to achieve a $30 trillion economy by 2047. The report proposes two key frameworks, E4 and PROGRES, to address the challenges faced by women in both rural and urban areas. By focusing on empowering women through entrepreneurship and job readiness, India can unlock significant …

India's Stunned Response to Pakistan at UNSC: A Call for Action on Minority Women's Safety
1 month, 3 weeks ago

India's Stunned Response to Pakistan at UNSC: A Call for Action on Minority Women's Safety

India TV News  

India expressed deep disappointment and condemnation over Pakistan's provocative remarks and political propaganda surrounding the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council meeting. The Indian Permanent Representative, P Harish, stated that the condition of women belonging to minority communities, particularly Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians, remains abysmal, with an estimated 1,000 women subjected to forced religious conversions and marriages annually. Harish …

Empowering Women: The Key to India's Growth Story
2 months ago

Empowering Women: The Key to India's Growth Story

Hindustan Times  

India's youth are a driving force for economic growth, with the government investing heavily in skills and employment programs to empower them. The country aims to arm two million young Indians with job-ready skills over the next five years, with a focus on women's empowerment. The Skill Impact Bond (SIB) is a successful model that has attracted private sector funds …

Empowering Women: The Key to Boosting India's GDP
2 months, 1 week ago

Empowering Women: The Key to Boosting India's GDP

Hindustan Times  

Achieving gender equality in India could boost the GDP by $700 billion by 2025, representing a 16% increase over the current contribution. Women contribute about 18% of India’s GDP, significantly below the global average of 37%. This indicates a vast potential for growth if gender gaps in employment are addressed.

Women’s economic empowerment as a means to alleviate poverty
4 months ago

Women’s economic empowerment as a means to alleviate poverty

Hindustan Times  

India’s recent strides in poverty alleviation demonstrate the remarkable impact of inclusion and outcome-oriented policy and execution. According to the World Bank, if India increases its women labour force participation from the current 25% to 50%, it could bring India closer to an 8% Gross Domestic Product growth rate. To further support economic empowerment, the government’s lakhpati didis and Women …

Women’s economic empowerment as a means to alleviate poverty
4 months ago

Women’s economic empowerment as a means to alleviate poverty

Hindustan Times  

India’s recent strides in poverty alleviation demonstrate the remarkable impact of inclusion and outcome-oriented policy and execution. To further support economic empowerment, the government’s lakhpati didis and Women Entrepreneurship Fund Scheme focus on elevating women's financial status and fostering entrepreneurship. These efforts are complemented by programs like Mission Shakti and Mahila Shakti Kendras, which bolster women's safety, security, and community …

India Rural Colloquy 2024 Highlights Alarming Regression in Gender Gap Closure
4 months, 2 weeks ago

India Rural Colloquy 2024 Highlights Alarming Regression in Gender Gap Closure

The Quint  

The session underscored the urgent need for actionable solutions to bridge the gender gap and foster greater inclusion of women in the rural workforce. As India continues to grapple with these challenges, the insights and discussions from the India Rural Colloquy 2024 serve as a crucial blueprint for policymakers, activists, and communities committed to realizing the full potential of rural …

More Than a Social Issue: Why Women’s Empowerment is an Economic Imperative
4 months, 4 weeks ago

More Than a Social Issue: Why Women’s Empowerment is an Economic Imperative

News 18  

“Empowering women isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do.” – Barack Obama India stands at a critical juncture in its pursuit of inclusive economic growth, where the interplay of health, gender equality, and economic policies is more significant than ever. The recently tabled Economic Survey 2024 and the Union Budget have brought to …

India’s demographic journey of hits and misses
5 months, 1 week ago

India’s demographic journey of hits and misses

The Hindu  

As we observe World Population Day on July 11, there is much to look at in India’s demographic journey over the decades. With 2030, the target year, drawing closer, India’s progress in the SDGs should be understood particularly in light of its population dynamics. India’s population dynamics Three components, namely fertility, mortality, and migration, play a pivotal role in shaping …

World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2024: 134 Years to Parity, India Ranks 129th
6 months ago

World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2024: 134 Years to Parity, India Ranks 129th

The Hindu  

Published : Jun 22, 2024 14:00 IST - 6 MINS READ The Global Gender Gap Report 2024, released by the World Economic Forum, presents a dire picture of the current state and evolution of gender parity across four indices: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. In its assessment of the four indices, the Global …

Road ahead for PM Modi, India in a China +1 world
6 months ago

Road ahead for PM Modi, India in a China +1 world

Hindustan Times  

Though his party didn’t win the landslide victory he hoped for, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured a rare third five-year term as India’s PM. In addition, India’s media environment has become more polarised as many more people get their news online than when Modi was first elected a decade ago. The World Economic Forum’s most recent gender gap report …

Reshaping gender roles in India: Improving women’s economic outcomes
6 months, 1 week ago

Reshaping gender roles in India: Improving women’s economic outcomes

Hindustan Times  

Women with children all across the globe face the daunting task of balancing career growth with caregiving responsibilities, which often leads to career stagnation and perpetuates several gender gaps in accessing decent jobs. Across G20 countries, without exception, women on average perform the majority of the daily time spent on unpaid care work, ranging from 90.5% in India to 60.2 …

India 129th on Global Gender Gap index, this country is on top: Complete list
6 months, 1 week ago

India 129th on Global Gender Gap index, this country is on top: Complete list

Hindustan Times  

India slipped two places on the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap index to 129th place as Iceland retained its top position in the rankings. India was among the economies with the lowest levels of economic parity, with Bangladesh, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan, and Morocco as all of them registered less than 30 per cent gender parity in estimated earned income. …

India ranks 129th on global gender gap index, Iceland on top: World Economic Forum
6 months, 1 week ago

India ranks 129th on global gender gap index, Iceland on top: World Economic Forum

New Indian Express  

The WEF said India's economic parity score has trended upwards for the past four years. In the Political Empowerment subindex, India scored within the top-10 on the head-of-state indicator, but its scores for women's representation at the federal level, in ministerial positions and in Parliament, remain relatively low, it added. The WEF said the world has closed 68.5 per cent …

Employers In India Actively Promoting Gender Parity In Offices, IT Sector Most Diverse: Survey
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Employers In India Actively Promoting Gender Parity In Offices, IT Sector Most Diverse: Survey

ABP News  

A recent study revealed that a major proportion of employers in India are undertaking active measures to boost diversity and gender parity in the workspaces. These employers are adopting progressive policies, promoting upskilling and flexibility for employees, and have reshaped the hiring strategies by making women's hiring mandatory across levels in several sectors. The latest research conducted by ManpowerGroup India …

Lifting the burden keeping Indian women from work
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Lifting the burden keeping Indian women from work

New Indian Express  

Women’s work participation across the world has been low and its recovery from the post-pandemic period has been slow. The International Labour Organization’s World Employment and Social Outlook Report for 2023 reflects on this persistent gender gap and pegs women’s participation in the labour market at 47.4 percent, as compared to men’s at 72.3 percent. Apart from the ILO's highlight …

Rahul Gandhi's big Lok Sabha poll promise for women
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Rahul Gandhi's big Lok Sabha poll promise for women

Hindustan Times  

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday promised that his party will reserve 50 per cent of government jobs for women if voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said women's potential will be fully utilised only when women have equal contribution in the government running the country “Isn't the population of women in India 50 …

The determinant in more women in the job market
9 months, 2 weeks ago

The determinant in more women in the job market

The Hindu  

There is growing demand from social scientists, governments and international organisations, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, that women’s participation in the economy/labour market should increase to promote economic growth of India. Consequently, they overcrowd in stereotyped low productivity jobs and lag behind men in all average labour market outcomes such as participation, wages, and diversification …

Women, babies, growth: ‘Not a switch that can be turned on and off’
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Women, babies, growth: ‘Not a switch that can be turned on and off’

Hindustan Times  

Some estimates say India’s population will peak as early as the 2040s – close enough to worry about. Round 5 of the NFHS shows that India’s fertility level is below the replacement rate of 2.1 in all but five states. One is that once women decide to have fewer children, it’s not a switch that can be turned on and …

More women take to STEM at college. But can India Inc stem their exit from jobs?
10 months, 3 weeks ago

More women take to STEM at college. But can India Inc stem their exit from jobs?

Live Mint  

The country has seen a remarkable rise in women joining colleges, and many of them are studying science and technology courses, but that has failed to significantly improve the diversity quotient at corporate India. Yet, the high number of women graduates will take a while before they boost gender diversity in India Inc. During and after the pandemic, a large …

India starts survey to assess women participation in workforce
10 months, 3 weeks ago

India starts survey to assess women participation in workforce

The Hindu  

The Union Ministries of Labour & Employment and Women & Child Development have started a joint survey on increasing women participation in the workforce. The survey was announced by Union Minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi at a function “Women in the Workforce for Viksit Bharat” on Tuesday. Latest PLFS data The latest results of the Periodic Labour Force Survey, …

Women are losing out to men in India’s jobless growth
1 year ago

Women are losing out to men in India’s jobless growth

Live Mint  

The share of women in regular salaried jobs in urban India dropped from 54% in the first quarter to 52.8% in the second quarter, according to quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey data, Business Standard reported. Since salaried workers receive regular wages, that type of work is preferred to casual work or self-employment, which also includes working as unpaid household help …

How women's participation in business influences the economy | Explained
1 year ago

How women's participation in business influences the economy | Explained

India Today  

Women around the world play a pivotal role in maintaining the stability and prosperity of their families. However, when it comes to entrepreneurship, business endeavours have, for years, been associated with men, thereby limiting women's opportunities to showcase their abilities. Nishtha Yogesh, Founder and CEO, Hunar online course, has shared how, despite facing numerous challenges, such as poor access to …

Challenges and opportunities for women farmers in India
1 year ago

Challenges and opportunities for women farmers in India

Hindustan Times  

India, a nation deeply rooted in its agricultural heritage, stands firm on the pillars of its rural population. An article issued by Niti Aayog highlighted that a staggering 80% of women in these regions are deeply entwined in the rhythms of agricultural life, reinforcing their indispensable role in India's agricultural narrative. Women's leadership in agriculture can tackle gender inequality head-on, …

The big threat to India’s demographic dividend
1 year ago

The big threat to India’s demographic dividend

Live Mint  

Bengaluru: In a short press release, dated 13 October, the Ministry of Women and Child Development announced that the Female Labour Force Participation Rate for 2022-23 had improved significantly over the previous year by 4.2 percentage points to 37%. Non-obvious insights View Full Image One of the most under-reported trends is that agriculture, which is the least productive undertaking, is …

For an equal future, G20’s gender vision
1 year, 3 months ago

For an equal future, G20’s gender vision

Hindustan Times  

The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration 2023 can only be described using two adjectives – inclusive and visionary. Right from the outset, the Declaration makes its commitment crystal clear: G20 nations are dedicated to closing gender gaps and promoting “the full, equal, effective, and meaningful participation of women” in the economy as decision-makers. The New Delhi Declaration dedicates a distinct …

Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath shares insight on India’s low female labour force partic
1 year, 3 months ago

Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath shares insight on India’s low female labour force partic

Live Mint  

India's female labour force participation remains to be at an extremely low level in past one decade. Highlighting the opportunity of economic boost by employing India's female population, Zerodha's Nithin Kamath shared insight on India's female labour force participation. Our female labor force participation rate is among the lowest in the world.” He also underlined thed drastic fall in female …

DC Edit | Women's employment a steep challenge
1 year, 4 months ago

DC Edit | Women's employment a steep challenge

Deccan Chronicle  

India is the most populous nation on earth and more than half of its people, 52 per cent to be precise, are aged below 30. Given that India’s sex ratio is almost evenly poised, about 35 crore women, a number almost equal to the whole population of the United States, belong to this group. Pit this against the current data …

At helm of G20, India is shifting narrative to women-led development
1 year, 5 months ago

At helm of G20, India is shifting narrative to women-led development

Hindustan Times  

NEW DELHI: Women-led development forms the core of India’s G20 presidency. HT takes a look at the progress of past G20 initiatives and sheds light on the imminent challenges faced by women More women in G20 participate in labour markets than 2012 At the 2014 summit in Brisbane, G20 leaders committed to reducing the gender gap in labour force participation …

Bridging the gap: On India and Gender Gap Report
1 year, 6 months ago

Bridging the gap: On India and Gender Gap Report

The Hindu  

June 24, 2023 12:10 am | Updated 11:05 am IST India has climbed eight places in the annual Gender Gap Report, 2023, and is ranked 127 out of 146 countries in terms of gender parity, from 135 last year. On the four key markers of the index – economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival and political empowerment …

India improves gender parity ranking
1 year, 6 months ago

India improves gender parity ranking

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: India ranks 127 out of 146 countries in terms of gender parity, as per the World Economic Forum's annual Gender Gap Report, 2023. The present ranking is an improvement of 1.4 percentage points and eight positions since last year when the WEF ranked India 135 out of 146 countries in its 2022 report. On political empowerment, the report …

India climbs eight places to 127 in global gender index, says WEF report
1 year, 6 months ago

India climbs eight places to 127 in global gender index, says WEF report

The Hindu  

India was ranked at 127 out of 146 countries in terms of gender parity — an improvement of eight places from last year, according to the annual Gender Gap Report, 2023 of the World Economic Forum. The country had improved by 1.4 percentage points and eight positions since the last edition, marking a partial recovery towards its 2020 parity level, …

Women can benefit in a big way from care services sector, says Smriti Irani
1 year, 6 months ago

Women can benefit in a big way from care services sector, says Smriti Irani

The Hindu  

The G20 Summit should focus on developing a care economy and eliminate bias against women in technology and related sectors, said Smriti Irani, Union Minister for Women and Child Development. At the release of the communique at the final summit of the W20 engagement group at Mamallapuram near here on Thursday, she said: “When you discuss gender and technology, let …

India must bridge the gender equality gap
1 year, 7 months ago

India must bridge the gender equality gap

Hindustan Times  

South Asia is home to 860 million women, three-fourths of whom live in India. The average wage salaries for women remain at around 70% of their male colleagues India ranks 112 in the Global Gender Gap Report 2020 of WEF. World Bank figures reveal that in 2016 despite women-headed households in India being around 14.6%, women faced high levels of …

As India’s population soars above all, fewer women have jobs
1 year, 8 months ago

As India’s population soars above all, fewer women have jobs

Associated Press  

MUMBAI, India — Sheela Singh cried the day she handed in her resignation. It’s not only a problem for women like Singh, but a growing challenge for India’s own economic ambitions if its estimated 670 million women are left behind as its population expands. ___ The women’s employment rate peaked at 35% in 2004 and fell to around 25% in …

Analysis | As India's population booms, where are its working women?
1 year, 9 months ago

Analysis | As India's population booms, where are its working women?

The Hindu  

Pinky Negi, an Indian teacher with two master's degrees, loved her old job at a public school in the Himalayan foothills. Less than a third of Indian women are working or actively seeking work, data shows, despite progress such as better educational attainment, improved health, falling fertility rates and more women-friendly labour policies. Policy changes that could rectify these problems …

Women’s empowerment crucial for nation’s development: PM Modi
1 year, 9 months ago

Women’s empowerment crucial for nation’s development: PM Modi

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India can move forward only by respecting, empowering and making women feel equal. I call upon all of you to move forward with the determination to remove every obstacle coming in the way of all women”, PM Modi said. Speaking at a post-budget webinar on economic empowerment of women, Modi …

Women’s work is not valued properly: Indian development economist Jayati Ghosh
1 year, 9 months ago

Women’s work is not valued properly: Indian development economist Jayati Ghosh

The Hindu  

In her 2022 book, The Making of a Catastrophe, on the disastrous economic fallout of COVID-19, Indian development economist Jayati Ghosh writes that job losses and food insecurity were significantly higher for women. India is among one of the few countries that did not even achieve the MDGs for maternal health, and since then the pandemic has dramatically worsened the …

Affirming gender equality in policy and practice
1 year, 9 months ago

Affirming gender equality in policy and practice

Hindustan Times  

Given the theme for this International Women’s Day, March 8, 2023, viz. DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, one wonders whether in the face of many persisting structural and systemic barriers compounded by the pandemic that thwart women’s empowerment and the progress toward gender equality, all the efforts that has been made to strengthen the legal framework on the …

International Women's Day | SHE makes remarkable contributions in North East India amid challenges and opportunities
1 year, 9 months ago

International Women's Day | SHE makes remarkable contributions in North East India amid challenges and opportunities

Firstpost  

While women make up 48 per cent of India’s population, their contribution to the country’s GDP is a mere 17 per cent. Therefore, it is crucial to promote the concept of women’s equal rights and empowerment in politics, economics, and socio-cultural development North East India is a region that is home to many remarkable women who have made significant contributions …

In India, a silent revolution of nari shakti is unfolding
1 year, 9 months ago

In India, a silent revolution of nari shakti is unfolding

Hindustan Times  

Since taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recognised that India’s true potential will only be realised when women are given equal opportunities in all spheres of life. Every gender-related initiative of the government has been aligned to one or more SDG-5 targets — ending discrimination and violence against women, improving access to basic services as well as …

Can Britannia help women grab a bigger slice of India's job pie?
1 year, 9 months ago

Can Britannia help women grab a bigger slice of India's job pie?

Live Mint  

Britannia Industries Ltd claims it expects women to comprise half of its workforce by 2024. Any decision to increase the number of women in formal jobs is most welcome in India, where the female labour force participation rate has been falling since hitting a peak of 32% in 2005. The government’s data shows women’s labour force participation rate recently rose …

International Women's Day 2023: Women Entrepreneurs Paving the Way for a New India
1 year, 9 months ago

International Women's Day 2023: Women Entrepreneurs Paving the Way for a New India

News 18  

In recent years, the Indian business landscape has seen a significant shift, with more and more women stepping up as entrepreneurs and making a mark in the industry. Women entrepreneurs are not only bring creativity, innovation, and empathy to the table, but they are also creating a positive social impact through their businesses. In fact, 20.37% of businesses in India …

Bring more women into the workforce: Ashoka Mody
1 year, 9 months ago

Bring more women into the workforce: Ashoka Mody

The Hindu  

In India Is Broken — And why it’s hard to fix, veteran economist Ashoka Mody chooses the road less travelled to tell the story of the multitudes of lived realities that still need comeuppance within the country’s much-vaunted economic liberalisation success story. But instead of just reeling off a critique of contemporary India’s glaring dichotomies and inequities, Mody traverses through …

Why women get fewer jobs and earn lesser wages than men in India
1 year, 9 months ago

Why women get fewer jobs and earn lesser wages than men in India

The Hindu  

Published : Feb 27, 2023 12:39 IST Following the announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in October last year of equal pay for all men and women Team India cricketers, the highest bid received by a cricketer in the inaugural Women’s Premier League is being celebrated as a watershed moment, not just in India but globally. …

Gender parity in Bihar: Why the state performs poorly on indices despite many affirmative actions
1 year, 9 months ago

Gender parity in Bihar: Why the state performs poorly on indices despite many affirmative actions

Firstpost  

Among the key characteristics of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s developmental practices, the most noticeable and possibly admired part is his policy choice and action steered by an alternative paradigm. In his long and eventful tenure as Bihar’s Chief Minister, he oriented the policy regime towards less explored but immensely important areas like gender parity. Under his leadership, the Government …

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