Women: The Rights Matrix
Ensuring Legal, Social, and Economic justice for women.
| What is the rising trajectory of the Female Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in India? | - Visual: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): Female LFPR Rising Trajectory Female Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) Trend (%)Loading chart... Source: Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) / Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Key Insight: The Female Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in India has witnessed a structural surge, rising from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 37.0% in 2023-24. This expansion reflects increased rural self-employment, microcredit mobilization through exclusive Women SHGs (reaching 97.04% bank linkage), and enabling policies like the Maternity Benefit Amendment (2017). |
| What key legislative progress and safeguards protect women's rights in India? | - POSH Act 2013: Protection from sexual harassment at workplaces. - Maternity Benefit (Amendment) 2017: 26 weeks of paid leave. - Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (2023): 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill providing 33% reservation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. - Marriage Age Proposal: Increase from 18 to 21 (Jaya Jaitly Committee). - Marital Rape: Debate on Exception 2, Section 375 IPC. - MTP Amendment Act 2021: Upper limit for abortion raised to 24 weeks. - Vigyan Jyoti & GATI: Initiatives for Women in STEM. India has 43% female STEM graduates (highest in the world), but job conversion remains a challenge (leaky pipeline). - Female LFPR: Ratio of female to male LFPR (15-59 yrs) improved to 0.54 (2023-24) from 0.43 (2020-21). - Women SHGs: Proportion of exclusive women SHGs in bank-linked groups reached 97.04% (2023-24). - Domestic Workers: First All-India Survey (2021) and Draft National Policy to provide rights, minimum wages, and social security to ~39 lakh workers (majority female). |
| What is the 'Gender Agency' paradigm and survival targets under the 12th Five-Year Plan? | 12th FYP: Gender Inclusiveness & Survival Targets (Source: 12th FYP Vol. I & III / Latest Stats: NFHS-5 & SRS) The 12th Plan elevated "Gender Agency" from a welfare issue to a structural pillar of economic inclusiveness. 12th Plan Progress Indicators: - Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 927 (2001) / 919 (2011) → Target: 950 → 929 (NFHS-5) - Maternal Mortality (MMR): 212 → Target: 100 → 97 (SRS 2018-20) - Institutional Deliveries: 53% → Target: 100% → 88.6% (NFHS-5) - Gender Gap in Literacy: 21.6% → Target: 10% → ~12% (Latest UDISE+)Key Institutional Transitions:
Key Takeaway: The 12th Plan was revolutionary in advocating for Women’s Agency rather than just empowerment. It recognized that till women have control over assets (joint titling) and safe transport (UMTA), true inclusive growth is impossible. |
| List the related modules and key phrases for mains. | - GS3 Economy: [Service Sector (LFPR)](/upsc/gs3/economy-mains/14_service_sector_mains) - GS2 Social Justice: [Children](/upsc/gs2/social-justice-mains/children-mains) Mains Keywords |