National Summary

India with the s econd largest population in the world at 1.3 billion is the world’s largest democracy. Since achieving independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, India has increasingly emerged as an economic powerhouse and a major regional force. 

Haryana is a state in north-central India, surrounding New Delhi on three sides. It has the fifth-highest per capita income among Indian states, but as in the rest of the country, women’s participation in the workforce is significantly lower and falling in a context of economic growth and high rate of job creation.  

The state has some of the worst gender equality indicators in the country. More baby girls are aborted here than anywhere else in India. Moreover, while thousands of primary and secondary schools have ensured that basic education is available throughout the state, much of the population, especially rural women, remained unable to read in the early 21st century.