'Women and Men in India 2025' Report

'Women and Men in India 2025' Report

  • Context:

  • The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) recently released the 27th edition of its flagship publication, 'Women and Men in India 2025: Selected Indicators and Data'.

  • The comprehensive report was formally unveiled at the National Deliberative Summit on "Data for Development" held in Bhubaneswar.

  • Highlights of the Report:

  • The publication compiles gender-disaggregated data drawn from multiple government ministries, departments, and organizations to present a broad overview of gender-related trends.

  • It provides critical insights across population, education, health, employment, and decision-making by presenting data with rural-urban classifications and state-wise distributions.

  • Furthermore, it includes metadata for 50 key indicators to help researchers and policymakers design effective gender-responsive policies.

  • Health and Demographics:

  • The report indicates positive demographic shifts, noting that the all-India sex ratio at birth improved from 904 in 2017-19 to 917 in 2021-23, marking progress in female survival at birth.

  • Additionally, it recorded a sustained decline in infant mortality rates for both boys and girls between 2008 and 2023.

  • Educational Parity:

  • India has successfully achieved gender parity across all levels of school education, from the primary to the higher secondary level.

  • In the realm of higher education, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for females saw a notable rise from 28.5 to 30.2 between 2021-22 and 2022-23, outpacing the male GER, which rose from 28.3 to 28.9 during the same period.

  • Employment and Leadership:

  • The report points to significant gains in labour force participation for both men and women aged 15 and above.

  • Rural women recorded the sharpest rise in this metric, with their labour force participation increasing from 37.5% in 2022 to 45.9% in 2025.

  • Moreover, women's representation in decision-making is improving, evidenced by a 102.54% increase in women in managerial roles between 2017 and 2025, compared to a 73.80% increase among men.