Society · 25 Aug 2026

Female Labour Force Participation Rate PLFS 2025

Consider the following statements regarding the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India:

  1. As per PLFS 2025, India's overall FLFPR (age 15+) rose from about 30% in 2019-20 to about 40% in 2025, with the rural FLFPR rising at a considerably faster pace than the urban FLFPR over this period.
  2. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and was launched in 2017.
  3. The Average Annual Percentage Point (AAPP) change is a measure of the absolute level of FLFPR attained by a state, rather than the pace at which that state's FLFPR has improved.
A1 only
B2 only
C1 and 2 only
D1, 2 and 3
This question is based on: Ten Points in Five Years - What India's Rising FLFPR Actually Measures
Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 25 Aug 2026
About this question

Why in news

The Hindu's Data Point column analysed the newly released PLFS 2025 figures, using state-wise charts to show which states are converging toward higher female workforce participation and which remain structurally behind, reviving debate on whether India's rising FLFPR reflects genuine empowerment or post-pandemic economic distress.

Why for UPSC

UPSC frequently tests whether a headline statistic is understood correctly alongside the specific survey mechanism and metric definitions behind it - this question checks both the FLFPR trend data and the AAPP concept, a classic "don't confuse the metric" trap.

Prelims summary

FLFPR (15+) rose from 30% to 40% (2019-20 to 2025), driven mainly by rural gains (33% to 45.9%) versus modest urban gains (23.3% to 27.7%). PLFS is run by NSSO under MoSPI since 2017. AAPP measures pace of change, not absolute level.

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