International 16 September 2026
Global Gender Gap Index 2026: India Retains 131st Rank
Why in the News?
India has retained its 131st position out of 145 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2026 released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Iceland, Finland, and Norway continue to occupy the top three spots respectively.
Key Features / Major Points:
India's Standing and Score: India recorded an overall gender parity score of 64.5%, which is below the global average. However, since 2006, India has witnessed a 4.3 percentage point increase in gender parity, largely driven by improvements in educational attainment.
Top Performers: Iceland leads the global index as the only country to have closed more than 90% (93%) of its gender gap. Finland and Norway follow closely, while Namibia climbed four spots to secure the fourth position.
Sector-Wise Performance:
Economic Participation and Opportunity: India scored 41.2% in this sub-index.
Educational Attainment: India achieved a strong score of 96.6% in education levels.
Political Empowerment: This remained India's strongest sub-index, securing a global rank of 67th.
Global Outlook: According to the WEF report, the global gender gap has been reduced to 69.2%, though it is estimated to take another 120 years to achieve full parity worldwide.
Static GK Facts:
World Economic Forum (WEF): A Geneva-based international organization committed to improving the state of the world, known for publishing the annual Global Gender Gap Report.
Key Dimensions of the Index: The index benchmarks national gender parity across four core pillars: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: What is India's rank in the Global Gender Gap Index 2026?
A: 131st
Q: Which country secured the top rank in the Global Gender Gap Index 2026?
A: Iceland
Q: Which organization publishes the Global Gender Gap Report?
A: World Economic Forum (WEF)