MEASURING GENDER INEQUALITY IN INDIA USING DIFFERENT INDICES

India has shown eminence in various domains and also experienced sturdy economic growth in the last decades. Despite this development, India?s poor performance in many international gender gap measures indicates the prevalence of severe gender discriminatory practices. This paper tries to estimate the extent and intensity of gender disparity still prevailing across states in India using the Gender Inequality Index. Also, the study focuses on the usefulness and appropriateness of the index. Attempts are made to construct indices like Women?s Disadvantage Index, Gender Relative Status Index to readdress the problem under concern. Inferences are drawn based on these new indices which are identified to overcome some of the limitations of Gender Inequality Index. This is high time to take necessary actions to create a more gender equal society so that India can reap the benefits of demographic dividend.