India Ranks 131st in Global Gender Gap Index 2026

Global Gender Gap Index 2026:

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) released the Global Gender Gap Report 2026, marking the 20th edition of the index, which was first launched in 2006. 
• The index measures the gap between women and men across four dimensions: 
  • Economic Participation and Opportunity 
  • Educational Attainment 
  • Health and Survival 
  • Political Empowerment 
• The index covers 145 economies in 2026 and measures how much of the gender gap has been closed; 100% represents complete parity. 

India’s Performance

• India ranked 131st, with an overall gender parity score of 64.5%. Its rank remained unchanged from the previous edition, although its score improved slightly. 
• India’s overall progress since 2006 amounts to a 4.3 percentage-point improvement, mainly driven by gains in education. 
• Educational Attainment: India scored 96.6%, maintaining full parity in secondary and tertiary enrolment. 
• Health and Survival: India scored 95.6%, although the sex ratio at birth remains below its 2006 level. 
• Economic Participation and Opportunity: India scored 41.2%. Labour-force participation parity stood at 44.1%, while parity among legislators, senior officials and managers was only 13.1%. 
• Political Empowerment: India scored 24.5% and ranked 67th globally in this dimension. Only 16.1% of the parliamentary gender gap was closed, while ministerial parity stood at 5.9%. 

Global Scenario

• Globally, 69.2% of the gender gap has been closed, but full parity is estimated to remain about 120 years away at the present rate of progress. 
• Iceland ranked first with 93% parity, followed by Finland and Norway. 
• Chad ranked 145th, while Iran and Pakistan were among the bottom three. 
• Australia entered the global top 10 for the first time. 
• Women remain underrepresented in emerging technologies; they account for fewer than one in five AI engineers globally. 

About World Economic Forum:

• Founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab as the European Management Forum. 
• It is an independent, non-profit international organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland. 
• Its mission is to “improve the state of the world through public-private cooperation.”
• It brings together governments, businesses, civil society and experts. 
• Its annual meeting is held at Davos, Switzerland. 
• It discusses economic challenges, climate change, technology, security and global development. 
• It publishes reports such as the Global Risks Report and Global Gender Gap Report.

Practice Question

Q. With reference to the Global Gender Gap Index 2026, consider the following statements:

1. India’s highest gender parity score among the four dimensions was recorded in Educational Attainment. 
2. India’s Political Empowerment score was higher than its Economic Participation and Opportunity score. 
3. India ranked higher than Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka in the overall Global Gender Gap Index 2026. 
4. The World Economic Forum was originally established as the European Management Forum. 

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A. 1 and 4 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer: A. 1 and 4 only

Explanation:

• India scored 96.6% in Educational Attainment, its highest score among the four dimensions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• India scored 24.5% in Political Empowerment, compared with 41.2% in Economic Participation and Opportunity. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• India ranked below Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka in the overall index. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• The WEF was founded in 1971 as the European Management Forum by Klaus Schwab. Hence, statement 4 is correct.