Chapter 2 · Topic 2.1 · Prelims + Mains1 of 3
Role of Women & Women’s Organisations: Status and sex ratio
Key points
- 19th-century reform debates: sati, child marriage, widow remarriage, purdah, female education, age of consent.
- Rakhmabai case (1884): age of consent and restitution of conjugal rights; led to the Age of Consent Act, 1891.
- NFHS-5: sex ratio 1020, but sex ratio at birth only 929. Female LFPR rose to 41.7% (2023-24).
- Rich States like Haryana and Punjab have low sex ratio at birth due to son preference.
Prelims box: facts and traps
- Prelims 2020: Rakhmabai case, answer (b): age of consent and restitution of conjugal rights.
- Prelims 2017: the Global Gender Gap Index is published by the World Economic Forum.
- Sex ratio at birth (NFHS-5): Haryana 893, Punjab 904, Delhi 923, India 929.
Status of women: then and now
Mains 2017 asked about the major issues and debates concerning women in the 19th-century social reform movement. Issues: sati (a widow burned on her husband’s pyre), child marriage, widow remarriage, purdah, female education and the age of consent. Reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule and Pandita Ramabai pushed change; orthodox groups resisted in the name of tradition.
The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What were the major issues and debates concerning women in that period?
Prelims 2020 asked what the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around. It raised the age of consent and restitution of conjugal rights, which means a court ordering a wife back to her husband’s home (statements 2 and 3). It fed the debate that led to the Age of Consent Act, 1891.
In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around 1. women’s right to gain education 2. age of consent 3. restitution of conjugal rights Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) · UPSC official key
Mains 2014 asked how patriarchy, a social system where men hold most power, affects a middle-class working woman. The double burden of office and home, pressure to put family first, glass ceilings (invisible limits on promotion) at work, safety limits on travel and late hours, and control over her income and choices.
How does patriarchy impact the position of a middle-class working woman in India?
LFPR is the share of people working or seeking work.
| Indicator | Value | Source and status |
|---|---|---|
| Sex ratio of the population | 1020 females per 1000 males | NFHS-5 (2019-21), survey estimate |
| Sex ratio at birth (last five years) | 929 (NFHS-4: 919) | NFHS-5, survey estimate |
| Female LFPR, age 15+, usual status | 41.7% in 2023-24 (23.3% in 2017-18) | PLFS, MoSPI, survey estimate |
| Male LFPR, age 15+ | 78.8% in 2023-24 | PLFS, MoSPI, survey estimate |
Official survey data: NFHS-5 (PIB, 17 Dec 2021) and PLFS Annual Report 2023-24 (MoSPI, September 2024).
What UPSC asks: Prelims: reform-era questions. Mains: patriarchy and the double burden. Next likely angle: the sex ratio of 1020.
Sex ratio and son preference
Sex ratio means the number of females per 1,000 males. If 1,000 boys are born, a ratio of 929 means 929 girls. Mains 2014 asked why some of India’s most prosperous regions have an adverse sex ratio. Reasons: strong son preference linked to property and lineage, dowry costs, small-family norms combined with easy access to sex-selection technology, and patriarchal norms that wealth does not remove. NFHS-5 sex ratio at birth was 893 in Haryana, 904 in Punjab and 923 in NCT of Delhi, against 929 for India (survey estimates).
Why do some of the most prosperous regions of India have an adverse sex ratio for women? Give your arguments.
| State/UT | NFHS-4 (2015-16) | NFHS-5 (2019-21) |
|---|---|---|
| India | 919 | 929 |
| Haryana | 836 | 893 |
| Punjab | 860 | 904 |
| NCT of Delhi | 812 | 923 |
| Gujarat | 906 | 955 |
| Kerala | 1047 | 951 |
Sex ratio at birth for children born in the last five years (females per 1,000 males), survey estimates. Source: NFHS-5, PIB, 17 Dec 2021.
Mains 2015 asked why the sex ratio among Tribes is more favourable to women than among Scheduled Castes: tribal societies generally have less dowry and son preference, women work in forests and fields, and some tribes have bride price (see also the chapter on Indian society and diversity).
How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes?
Prelims 2017 asked who gives the ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking. Answer: the World Economic Forum.
Which of the following gives ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world ?
- World Economic Forum
- UN Human Rights Council
- UN Women
- World Health Organization
Show answer
Answer: (a) · UPSC official key
What UPSC asks: Prelims: sex ratio at birth of 929. Mains: prosperity doesn’t mean balance. Next likely angle: the WEF index.
Mains box: analysis and answer points
- 2017: reform-era issues and the reformers vs orthodoxy debate.
- 2014 (two questions): patriarchy and the working woman; why prosperous regions have adverse sex ratios.
- 2015: why tribes have a better sex ratio than SCs. Next likely angle: the sex ratio of 1020.
Practice
Write an answer
In 150 words, explain the significance of Role of Women & Women’s Organisations with one recent example.
Flashcards (10)
Sex ratio, NFHS-5?
1020 females per 1000 males.
Sex ratio at birth, NFHS-5?
929 (NFHS-4: 919).
Rakhmabai case (1884) issues?
Age of consent and restitution of conjugal rights.
Patriarchy and the middle-class working
woman? Double burden, glass ceiling, limited choices.
SRB in Haryana, NFHS-5?
893.
Why adverse sex ratio in rich regions?
Son preference + technology + dowry.
Who publishes the Global Gender Gap
Index? World Economic Forum.
Female LFPR 2023-24?
41.7% (PLFS).
Female LFPR 2017-18?
23.3% (PLFS).
How long does it last?
15 years.
Read more: related explainers
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Next topic · 2.2 →Role of Women & Women’s Organisations: Movements, issues and workSyllabus: GS-I · Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, povert…