Conference on Enhancing Gender Statistics

The Social Statistics Division of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and the National Council of Applied Economic Research organised a two-day conference on Enhancing Gender Statistics in New Delhi on 15–16 January 2026. The event brought together policymakers, researchers and statisticians to discuss how gender data can be improved for better policy design, monitoring and evaluation. The conference brought into light the need for more reliable, disaggregated and policy-relevant statistics on women and gender inequality.

Focus of the Conference

The main objective was to examine methodological challenges in collecting data from women and about women. Participants discussed how statistical systems can better capture women’s lived realities, economic participation and access to opportunities. The conference also stressed the importance of gender-responsive data systems for evidence-based development planning.

Key Issues Discussed

• Gender-disaggregated data and its role in public policy.
• Data gaps and biases that affect the measurement of gender inequality.
• Challenges in measuring women’s economic empowerment.
• Ways to integrate gender perspectives into statistical methods.

Speakers and Technical Sessions

The conference featured experts from MoSPI, NCAER, the Indian Statistical Institute, the World Bank, the ILO, IITs and several universities. Technical presentations covered the evolution of the Indian statistical system, key findings and emerging challenges. Sessions also examined the Sustainable Development Goals through a gender lens and discussed emerging policy priorities related to gender.

Policy Significance

The conference reaffirmed that robust gender statistics are essential for inclusive governance and effective welfare delivery. Officials underlined the need for continued methodological refinement, stronger institutional collaboration and improved data quality, granularity and usability. The discussions concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthen gender-responsive statistical systems in India.