India's future rests on this latent potential

Female labour force participation rate, a metric key to India achieving its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, has much room to grow. Here's the low-down, ahead of International Women's Day:

- NANDITA VENKATESAN & PAYAL BHATTACHARYA

India's economic future hinges on a crucial yet underutilized resource: its women. From running households to supporting communities, women are integral to all sectors. As India strives to achieve its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, a key stated objective of the government is to ensure that 70% of its women are actively engaged in economic activities.

However, achieving this ambitious goal will require dismantling deeply rooted socio-economic barriers that prevent women from entering or staying in the workforce. Better access to childcare, elderly care, and workplace flexibility could help transform India's labour market and unlock new drivers of economic growth and social equality.

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