DIP: 18.02.028/20261103 
DOI: 10.25215/2455/1103028 
Abstract
Gender inequality remains a significant social, economic, and cultural issue in India despite substantial constitutional, legislative, educational, and institutional efforts to promote equality. Gender inequality is expressed through unequal access to education, employment, income, healthcare, property, political participation, decision-making, and social opportunities. Its persistence is closely associated with patriarchal social structures, gender norms, unequal distribution of household responsibilities, cultural expectations, and differences in access to resources. Historically, women’s social position in India has been shaped by diverse cultural traditions, economic conditions, regional practices, and social institutions. The modern period witnessed important transformations through social reform movements, women’s participation in the national movement, constitutional guarantees, and the expansion of education and employment opportunities. Nevertheless, formal equality does not automatically ensure substantive equality in everyday life. Gender differences continue to interact with caste, class, ethnicity, religion, rural and urban location, disability, and other forms of social disadvantage. Education has emerged as a major instrument of empowerment, yet disparities remain in access, continuation, subject choice, and participation in certain fields. Similarly, women’s participation in the labour market has expanded, but unpaid care work, occupational segregation, informal employment, wage differences, and limited access to productive resources continue to influence economic independence. Gender inequality also has important health dimensions, including nutrition, reproductive health, healthcare access, and exposure to social determinants of health. This chapter examines gender inequality in India through its historical, social, educational, economic, and health dimensions. It emphasizes that meaningful gender equality requires transformation not only of laws and institutions but also of social attitudes, cultural practices, household relationships, and opportunities for participation and decision-making.
The author(s) appreciates all those who participated in the study and helped to facilitate the research process. 
The author(s) declared no conflict of interest. 
ISSN 2455-670X