Correct option is D
The correct answer is (d) 32.8%
Explanation:
- As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2021–22, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for females aged 15 years and above was 32.8%.
- This marked a significant rise from 23.3% in 2017–18, indicating a 9.5 percentage point increase over four years.
- The increase was driven largely by rural female participation, which stood at 36.6%, compared to 23.8% in urban areas.
- LFPR includes those who are working or actively seeking work during the reference period.
- This trend reflects a positive shift in women's participation in the labour market, though challenges remain.
Information Booster:
- Male LFPR in 2021–22 was 77.2%, showing only a slight rise from previous years.
- The overall LFPR (male + female combined) increased to 55.2% in 2021–22.
- Despite improvements, India’s female LFPR remains lower than the global average.
- A large proportion of working women are engaged in informal or unpaid work, especially in agriculture and family enterprises.
- The rise in LFPR may also reflect economic distress, leading more women to seek work out of necessity.