The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 25th issue of its publication titled “Women and Men in India 2023”.
Key highlights of report
- By 2036, population of India is expected to reach 152.2 Crore, with a slightly improved female percentage of 48.8% as compared to 48.5 percent in 2011.
- The proportion of individuals under 15 years is projected to decrease from 2011 to 2036, likely due to declining fertility. Conversely, the proportion of the population aged 60 years and above is anticipated to substantially increase during this period.
- India’s population in 2036 is expected to be more feminine compared to the 2011 population, as reflected in the sex ratio which is projected to increase from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036.
- It is evident that from 2016 to 2020, Age Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR) in the age group of 20-24 and 25-29 has reduced from 135.4 and 166.0 to 113.6 and 139.6 respectively.
- The ASFR for the age 35-39 for the above period has increased from 32.7 to 35.6 which shows that after settling in the life, women are thinking of expansion of family.
- Adolescent Fertility Rate was 33.9 for illiterate population whereas 11.0 for the literate in 2020.
- India has successfully achieved the major milestone of bringing down its MMR (97/lakh live births in 2018-20), well in time and it should be possible to achieve the SDG target as well.
- Up to the 15thNational Election (1999), less than 60% of women electors participated, with men’s turnout being 8 percentage points higher. However, the 2014 elections marked a significant change, with women’s participation increasing to 65.6%, and further rising to 67.2% in the 2019 elections.
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognized a total of 1,17,254 start-ups since its inception in January 2016 up to December 2023. Among these, 55,816 start-ups are led by women, constituting 47.6% of the total recognized start-ups.