Socio-economic indicators of Women & Men: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the 26th edition of its publication titled “Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data”, offering a gender-disaggregated snapshot of socio-economic indicators (population, education, health, economic participation, and decision-making) across India.

• Highlights of the Report (2024 Edition)
• Education:

o Primary & Higher Secondary GPI: Consistently high → Strong female enrolment

o Upper Primary & Elementary GPI: Fluctuated but stayed near parity

• Labour Force Participation Rate (15+ yrs): From 49.8% (2017-18) → to 60.1% (2023-24)
• Banking Access: Women’s Ownership: 39.2% of all bank accounts 39.7% of total deposits. Women form 42.2% of rural account holders
• Female-led Enterprises: Proprietary establishments headed by women are increasing in Manufacturing Trade
• Political Participation: Electorate Growth - 1952 (173.2 million) & 2024 (978 million)

o Female voter turnout: 2019: 67.2% 2024: 65.8%

• Gender Gap Narrowing: → Female turnout surpassed male turnout in 2024
• Entrepreneurship: Startups with ≥1 woman director (DPIIT-recognised): 2017 (1,943) & 2024 (17,405) → Positive trend in female entrepreneurship.
• About: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) was formed in October 1999 by merging the Department of Statistics and the Department of Programme Implementation, and it has two wings: Statistics (National Statistical Office - NSO) & Programme Implementation (PI).