Women’s Economic Empowerment Index

India’s ambition to reach a $30 trillion economy by 2047 depends on the full economic inclusion of women, who currently contribute only 18% to GDP. With nearly 196 million employable women outside the workforce, bridging this gap is vital for both national development and social progress.

What is the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index?

Launched by Uttar Pradesh, the WEE Index (Women’s Economic Empowerment Index) is the country’s first district-level tool to track women’s participation in the economy systematically. The Index measures five key areas:

• Employment
• Education and Skill Development
• Entrepreneurship
• Livelihood and Mobility
• Safety and Inclusive Infrastructure

Goa, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh are leaders in women empowerment while West Bengal, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have the lowest scores on the Women’s Empowerment Index.

How Does the WEE Index Work?

The Index collects gender-disaggregated data from 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh, uncovering critical gaps invisible in traditional statistics.

Analysis showed women form over 50% of skilling programme enrolments, but very few transition into entrepreneurship or secure business credit.

In sectors like transport, findings prompted targeted reforms, such as new recruitment drives and better restroom facilities for women bus staff.

Fun Fact: Over 50% of women enrolled in skilling programs in UP, but very few transition to becoming entrepreneurs or getting formal business loans

Why Is the WEE Index Important?

It shifts policy focus from mere participation rates to addressing systemic and structural barriers holding women back.

Government departments are now required to develop actionable district plans. WEE data is tracked in real-time at the Chief Minister’s Control Room.

Successful districts, called “Champions,” are recognized for high performance in entrepreneurship, education, and employment, setting examples for others.

Some districts in UP, like Lucknow, Kanpur Nagar, and Varanasi, are labelled “Champions” for their outstanding work in boosting women’s employment and entrepreneurship.

The Way Forward

• Experts recommend replicating the WEE Index in states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana to make gender budgeting and targeted reforms mainstream nationwide.
• True gender budgeting requires viewing every rupee spent through a gender lens, not only welfare funds but also mainstream expenditures in sectors like infrastructure, energy, and education.
• Tracking women’s retention, leadership, job quality, and re-entry becomes central to planning, rather than just counting enrolments.

Do you know? Nationally, nearly 196 million employable women are outside India’s workforce, unlocking this potential is a big step towards a $30 trillion economy goal.

Exam-Relevant Fact Box

• Context: Women’s workforce participation is 41.7%; only 18% are in formal jobs.
• Key Innovation: India’s first Women’s Economic Empowerment Index was launched at the district level in Uttar Pradesh.
• Five Key Indicators: Employment, Skill/Education, Entrepreneurship, Livelihood/Mobility, Safety/Infrastructure.
• Impact: Action-based district plans, recruitment drives for women, and improved targeted budgeting & infrastructure.
• Replicability: Model for other Indian states aiming for trillion-dollar economies.