UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 12th July 2025

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 12th July 2025

Question

Despite being a global economic power and having the world’s largest youth population, India continues to perform poorly in global gender equality rankings. Discuss how gender inequality in health and economic participation hampers India’s development. Suggest policy measures to address these challenges. (10 marks, 150 words) 

Model Answer

Introduction:  

  • India, with its massive youth population and emerging economic stature, holds immense potential. However, the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 (WEF) places India at 131 out of 148 countries, revealing persistent gender disparities, particularly in economic participation (ranked 143rd) and health and survival. These gaps are not merely social injustices but structural inefficiencies undermining India’s long-term development trajectory. 

 How Gender Inequality Hampers India’s Development: 

  • High Anaemia Levels:  

  • Over 57% of women aged 15–49 are anaemic (NFHS-5), impacting productivity, maternal health, and intergenerational outcomes. 

  • Skewed Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): 

  • India’s SRB remains among the most imbalanced globally (940 females per 1,000 males, NFHS-5), reflecting persistent son preference and gender-based discrimination. 

  • Low Healthy Life Expectancy: 

  • Women now have lower healthy life expectancy than men (WEF, 2025), pointing to neglect in preventive and reproductive healthcare. 

  • Low Labour Force Participation:  

  • Female labour force participation (FLFP) is below 25%, among the lowest globally (PLFS 2023). 

  • Gender Pay Gap:  

  • Women earn only 32% of what men earn on average (WEF, 2025), reflecting occupational segregation and undervaluation of work. 

  • Unpaid Care Work:  

  • Women perform 7x more unpaid domestic work than men (Time Use Survey, 2019), limiting time for education, skilling, or paid work. 

  • Macroeconomic Impacts:  

  • According to McKinsey Global Institute (2015), closing gender gaps could add $770 billion to India’s GDP by 2025. Failure to do so has already cost substantial economic growth. 

  • Rising elderly dependency (projected 20% senior citizens by 2050, many being widowed women) will worsen the dependency ratio if women remain excluded from economic roles. 

 Policy Measures needed: 

  • Strengthen Health and Nutrition Systems:  

  • Expand Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and mobile clinics targeting reproductive and preventive care. 

  • Fully fund Anaemia Mukt Bharat and integrate it with mid-day meal and maternal nutrition schemes. 

  • Provide free/subsidised menstrual hygiene products and gender-sensitive health services. 

  • Invest in Care Economy Infrastructure:  

  • Create public childcare, eldercare, and maternity services, as in Uruguay’s National Integrated Care System. 

  • Recognise and value unpaid care work through time-use surveys, gender budgeting, and social security provisions. 

  • Promote Women’s Economic Participation:  

  • Incentivise women’s employment through tax breaks for inclusive employers, flexi-work policies, and digital upskilling under schemes like PMGDISHA. 

  • Leverage the Startup India and PM-YUVA schemes to support women-led enterprises. 

  • Legal and Institutional Reforms:  

  • Strengthen enforcement of the Equal Remuneration Act (1976) and expand coverage of Maternity Benefit Act (2017) to informal workers. 

  • Institutionalise gender budgeting across Union and State levels to track and allocate resources effectively. 

  • Behavioural and Educational Change:  

  • Expand gender sensitisation in schools and workplaces through campaigns like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and integrate gender modules into curriculum and teacher training. 

 Conclusion:  

  • Gender equality is no longer a social choice; it is an economic imperative. For India to truly harness its demographic dividend and sustain long-term growth, it must move beyond slogans to real investments in women’s health, labour participation, and care infrastructure. Equality, inclusion, and agency must be central to India’s development blueprint.