Women, Work and Enterprise: India’s Push for Better Livelihoods

Key Highlights:

• Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased from 23.3% in 2017-18 to 40% in 2025, while Worker Population Rate (WPR) rose from 22% to 38.8%.
• Approximately 20 crore women aged 15 years and above were employed in India by 2025.
• Women own ~3.69 crore registered MSMEs (38% of total) and lead ~48% of recognized startups as of 2026.
• Women constitute 70% of the direct workforce in mobile phone manufacturing and 25% in the semiconductor industry.
• Government policies focus on formal enterprise recognition, credit, market access, skilling, and safer workplaces for women.
• Key initiatives include Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Startup India, Womaniya Initiative, and consolidated Labour Codes.

Detailed Insights:

• The policy focus has shifted from mere participation to enhancing the quality, income, security, and economic empowerment of women's work.
• Swavalambini Scheme (2025) supports young women from business ideation to enterprise creation through training, finance, and mentorship.
• Yashasvini Campaign (2024) aims for gender parity on the Udyam Registration Portal and promotes the 3% public procurement target for women-owned MSEs.
• Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) has sanctioned two-thirds of its total loans to women entrepreneurs since its inception in 2015.
• The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises provides 90% enhanced guarantee coverage and a 10% concession for women-led MSEs.
• Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) offers higher subsidies (25% in urban, 35% in rural areas) for women beneficiaries.
• Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) provide financial support to women-led startups.
• The Womaniya Initiative on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) connects women-owned MSEs and SHGs with government buyers, exceeding the 3% procurement target.
• The Procurement & Marketing Support Scheme (PMS) offers a 100% subsidy on built-up space rent for women-owned MSEs at trade fairs.
• The MSME Trade Enablement & Marketing (TEAM) initiative leverages ONDC to provide digital marketing access to MSEs.
• Skill development schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 (PMKVY 4.0), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) are training women in emerging sectors like AI and semiconductors.
• Targeted skilling initiatives include Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls (NAVYA) and "AI Careers for Women" establishing Centres of Excellence.
• WISE-KIRAN scheme promotes women’s participation in STEM R&D through various fellowships and institutional programs like Vigyan Jyoti and Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI).
• The consolidated Labour Codes (2019, 2020) ensure women's representation in grievance committees, 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, crèche facilities, and prohibit gender discrimination.
• Women are now permitted to work in all establishments, including night shifts, with consent and prescribed safeguards.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): The percentage of the working-age population that is either employed or actively looking for employment.
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR): The proportion of employed persons in the total population.
• MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises): Enterprises classified based on investment in plant & machinery/equipment and annual turnover.
• Udyam Registration Portal: A government portal for the registration of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in India.