Why in News
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 27th edition of ‘Women and Men in India 2025’ at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This flagship statistical publication compiles gender-disaggregated data across health, education, labour, demography, and governance — serving as a key reference for UPSC Prelims and Mains on gender indicators.
Key Data — Women and Men in India 2025
Demography
| Indicator | Earlier Data | 2025 Report |
|---|---|---|
| Sex ratio (females per 1,000 males) | 904 (2017–19) | 917 (2021–23) |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) | 97 (2018–20) | 93 (2019–21) |
| Urban Total Fertility Rate (TFR) | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Rural Total Fertility Rate (TFR) | 2.2 | 2.1 |
| Replacement-level TFR | — | 2.1 |
India’s rural TFR has now reached replacement level (2.1) — meaning population stabilization is near for rural India. Urban TFR at 1.5 is below replacement.
Education
| Indicator | Male | Female | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) — Higher Education | 28.9 | 30.2 | Female GER now exceeds male |
| Gender Parity Index (GPI) — Higher Education | — | >1.0 | Girls outnumber boys in higher education enrolment |
| Literacy rate (15+) | ~84% | ~73% | Gap narrowing |
Gender Parity Index (GPI) > 1.0 in higher education means more women are enrolled proportionally than men — a significant reversal from historical trends.
Labour Force Participation
| Indicator | 2022–23 | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Female LFPR | 37.5% | 45.9% |
| Urban Female LFPR | ~24–25% | (improving) |
| Male LFPR (rural) | ~78% | ~79% |
Rural female LFPR has increased sharply — from 37.5% to 45.9% in just two years. Key drivers:
- MNREGS participation
- PM Vishwakarma and SHG-linked livelihoods
- Post-COVID return to agricultural work
- Expansion of PMAY-G construction and PMGSY work
Health
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| MMR (2019–21) | 93 per lakh live births |
| MMR target (NHP 2017) | <70 by 2025 |
| Under-5 mortality rate | Improving |
| Anaemia in women (15–49) | ~57% (NFHS-5, 2019–21) |
Political Representation
| Body | Women’s share |
|---|---|
| Lok Sabha (18th, 2024) | ~13.6% (74 out of 543) |
| Rajya Sabha | ~14.1% |
| State Assemblies | ~10–12% average |
| Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023) | 33% reservation — to be implemented after delimitation |
Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 (Constitution 106th Amendment Act) provides 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies — operational after next delimitation exercise.
Key Terms and Concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| LFPR (Labour Force Participation Rate) | % of working-age population either employed or actively seeking work |
| GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio) | Total enrolment regardless of age / total population in relevant age group × 100 |
| GPI (Gender Parity Index) | Ratio of female GER to male GER; >1.0 means female advantage |
| TFR (Total Fertility Rate) | Average number of children per woman over her lifetime |
| MMR (Maternal Mortality Ratio) | Deaths per 1,00,000 live births |
| Sex Ratio | Number of females per 1,000 males |
Key Government Schemes — Gender
| Scheme | Focus |
|---|---|
| Beti Bachao Beti Padhao | Sex ratio at birth, girl education |
| PM Matru Vandana Yojana | Maternity benefit — Rs 5,000 |
| Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana | Girl child savings scheme |
| MNREGS | Rural employment; 40%+ women |
| SHG–Bank linkage | NABARD; women-led micro-finance |
| Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023) | 33% women’s reservation in legislatures |
UPSC Relevance
| Paper | Angle |
|---|---|
| GS1 — Society | Sex ratio, TFR, gender equality, education |
| GS2 — Governance | Women’s political representation, reservation, schemes |
| GS1 — Geography | Population distribution, fertility patterns |
Mains Keywords: Women and Men in India 2025, MoSPI, sex ratio, TFR, MMR, Gender Parity Index, rural female LFPR, higher education gender parity, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, MNREGS women participation
Prelims Facts Corner
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| Women and Men in India 2025 | 27th edition; MoSPI; released Bhubaneswar |
| Sex ratio (2021–23) | 917 females per 1,000 males (up from 904 in 2017–19) |
| Female GER (higher education) | 30.2 (exceeds male GER of 28.9) |
| Rural female LFPR | 45.9% (up from 37.5% in 2022–23) |
| Urban TFR | 1.5 (below replacement) |
| Rural TFR | 2.1 (at replacement level) |
| MMR (2019–21) | 93 per lakh live births |
| Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam | 33% women’s reservation; 106th Constitutional Amendment 2023 |
| GPI > 1.0 | More women enrolled in higher education than men (proportionally) |
