Women's Labor Force Participation and Enabling Social Infrastructure
Social Justice & Development
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Women's empowerment and their economic participation are central to India's development goals. Understanding the barriers and policy solutions, especially the role of social infrastructure, is vital for designing effective welfare schemes and promoting inclusive growth and gender equality.
Women's labor force participation is a critical indicator of gender equality and economic development. However, in many developing countries, including India, it remains low due to societal norms, lack of adequate social infrastructure, and the burden of unpaid care work, which hinders women's entry and retention in the workforce.
Facts & tables
- Low FLFPR
- Low Female Labor Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India is a significant challenge for economic growth and gender equality.
- Barriers to Participation
- Lack of universal childcare, flexible working arrangements, and paid parental leave are major barriers to women's workforce entry.
- Unpaid Care Work
- Mothers often absorb disproportionate unpaid care work, preventing their entry into or retention in the formal workforce.
- International Best Practices
- Countries like France and Nordic states demonstrate success in high FLFPR through heavy investment in comprehensive social support systems.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Social Justice & Development |
| Conceptual area | Labor & Demographic Economics |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| State Legislature | Formulates policies related to women's employment and social support |
| Executive & Council of Ministers | Implements schemes for childcare, maternity benefits, and skill development for women |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- FLFPR is low in India, impacting development.
- Lack of childcare, flexible work, parental leave are key barriers.
- Unpaid care work disproportionately affects women.
- Social infrastructure investment is crucial for women's economic agency.
- Policies must align with both fertility and FLFPR goals.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2019 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2016 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
Timeline
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Social Justice & Development
Conceptual area
-
Labor & Demographic Economics
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2019
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Multi-statement analysis
-
Baby bait: on the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposed incentives for families
Boosting women's labor force participation requires robust social infrastructure like universal childcare, flexible work, and parental leave, not just incentives. Without these, women bear the burden of unpaid care, hindering their economic agency and overall development.
See also
Past papers
2016–2023 · 8 questions
In the news
Baby bait: on the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposed incentives for families
Boosting women's labor force participation requires robust social infrastructure like universal childcare, flexible work, and parental leave, not just incentives. Without these, women bear the burden of unpaid care, hindering their economic agency and overall development.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017?
1. Pregnant women are entitled for three months pre-delivery and three months post-delivery paid leave.
2. Enterprises with crèches must allow the mother minimum six crèche visits daily.
3. Women with two children get reduced entitlements.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 has made several significant changes to benefit women employees - Paid maternity leave has been increased to 26 weeks from 12 weeks. - For women expecting after having 2 children, the leave duration remains at 12 weeks. - Establishments employing 50 or more employees must provide a crche facility, and women employees should be allowed to visit the facility 4 times during the day.
With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements
1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is responsible for PMKVY, not the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Statement 2 is Correct. PMKVY goes beyond technical skills training and incorporates soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital literacy to make participants more employable. Statement 3 is Correct. A core objective of PMKVY is to bridge the gap between the skills of the unregulated workforce and industry requirements by aligning them with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). This standardization helps ensure a minimum level of competency and improves employment opportunities.
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013 consider the following statements:
1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: In 2013, NFSA was enacted to provide food security to 67% of the population in the form of highly subsidized food grains at Rs. 2 and 3 per Kg for wheat and rice respectively. Beneficiaries are identified using Socio-economic Caste Census (SECC) methodology so even non-BPL will also benefit. Statement 2 is correct: Under the NFSA, to issue ration cards the eldest woman of a household aged 18 years or above would be considered as head. Hence, this statement is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious take home ration of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months, says the official act.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I :India's public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.
Statement-II: Under India's decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement I is correct: India's public healthcare system prioritises curative care, which focuses on treating existing illnesses. Preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative care, which aims to prevent diseases, promote good health, and help people recover from illness, receive less emphasis. * Statement II is correct: India's healthcare system follows a decentralised approach. The central government sets policies and provides financial assistance, but individual states are responsible for organising and delivering health services to their populations. This allows for flexibility based on local needs and contexts.
Therefore, the answer is Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
With reference to ‘Stand Up India Scheme’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
2. It provides for refinancing through SIDBI.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is Correct: The Stand-up India scheme aims at promoting entrepreneurship among women and scheduled castes and tribes. Statement 2 is Correct: The scheme is anchored by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India. - The scheme provides for a refinance window through Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) with an initial amount of Rs, 10,000 Crore. - Stand-Up India Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 Crore to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise.
- This enterprise may be in manufacturing, services or the trading sector.
- In the case of non-individual enterprises, at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held by either an SC/ST or woman entrepreneur. Hence, option C is the correct answer.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM). It is a central intervention implemented by states, not an intervention of the State Health Departments. Statement 2 is correct: The primary objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by encouraging safe, institutional births. Statement 3 is correct: The scheme provides a cash incentive to mothers to promote institutional delivery, particularly among those from BPL, SC, and ST households. Statement 4 is incorrect: While care for sick infants is a priority under the National Health Mission, the provision of free facilities for sick infants up to one year of age is specifically a feature of the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) launched in 2011. JSY, launched in 2005, is primarily a conditional cash transfer scheme for delivery.
Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’?
1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The National Nutrition Mission, also known as Poshan Abhiyaan, has several objectives. - The first objective is to create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. - The second objective is to reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women. These two objectives are clearly stated in the mission's goals. Hence, statements 1 & 2 are correct. However, the promotion of the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice, and the promotion of the consumption of poultry eggs are not explicitly stated as objectives of the mission. Hence, statement 3 & 4 are incorrect.
Consider the following in respect of ‘National Career Service’:
1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Career Service is not an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. It is actually implemented by the Directorate General of Employment, Ministry of Labour & Employment. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Career Service has indeed been launched in a Mission Mode, but it is not specifically targeted at improving the employment opportunities for uneducated youth of the country. It is a comprehensive platform providing a wide array of employment and career related services to all citizens of India, aiming to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers, candidates seeking training and career guidance, and agencies providing training and career counselling.