Women own 39.2 pc of bank accounts in India: Govt report

New Delhi | Women own 39.2 per cent of bank accounts in the country and the proportion is even higher at 42.2 per cent in rural areas, according to a government report.

The Statistics and Programme Implementation Ministry (MoSPI) released the 26th edition of its publication titled “Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data” on Sunday.

The publication offers a comprehensive overview of the gender landscape in India, presenting selected indicators and data across key areas like population, education, health, economic participation, and decision-making, all sourced from various Ministries/ Departments/Organizations.

A MOSPI statement said that the report highlights that women own 39.2 per cent of all bank accounts and contribute to 39.7 per cent of total deposits.

Their participation is the highest in rural areas, where they make up 42.2 per cent of account holders.

It stated that there is a rise in DEMAT accounts over the years, indicating growing participation in the stock market. From March 31, 2021, to November 30, 2024, the total number of DEMAT accounts increased from 33.26 million to 143.02 million, marking more than a fourfold rise.

Male account holders have consistently outnumbered female account holders, but female participation has also shown a growing trend.

The number of male accounts rose from 26.59 million in 2021 to 115.31 million in 2024, while female accounts increased from 6.67 million to 27.71 million during the same period.

Rising percentage of female-headed proprietary establishments across manufacturing, trade, and other services sectors over the years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 has been observed, it stated..

The total number of electors increased from 173.2 million in 1952 to 978 million in 2024, with a notable rise in female voter registration.

Female voter turnout varied over the years, reaching 67.2 per cent in 2019 but slightly declining to 65.8 per cent in 2024.

The gender gap in voting has narrowed, with female turnout surpassing male turnout in 2024.

Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of startups recognized by DPIIT with at least one-woman director, reflecting a positive trend in female entrepreneurship. The total number of such startups rose from 1,943 in 2017 to 17,405 in 2024.

The primary and higher Secondary levels (students) have consistently high GPI (Gender Parity Index) , indicating strong female enrolment. Upper primary and elementary levels saw fluctuations but remained close to parity.

The LFPR (labour force participation rate) in usual status for ages 15 years and above has improved from 49.8 per cent (2017-18) to 60.1 per cent (2023-24), it stated.

"Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data" serves as a crucial resource, highlighting both progress in gender equality and persistent disparities. By analyzing socio-economic indicators and highlighting trends, it empowers policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to develop gender-sensitive policies fostering sustainable and inclusive development.