The National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) offers an important window into the evolving landscape of gendered development outcomes in India. Beyond aggregate national figures, the survey reveals significant state-wise variations and shifting trends in women’s empowerment, safety, property rights, and financial inclusion. Together, these indicators reflect both progress and persistent inequalities across regions, shaped by legal frameworks, social structures, and policy interventions.One of the most notable improvements highlighted by NFHS-6 is the increase in female ownership of property. The proportion of households with at least one female member owning a house or land has risen from 14 percent in NFHS-5 to 18.8 percent in NFHS-6. Although still modest, this upward trend reflects decades of legal reforms and advocacy efforts. Historical legislation such as the Hindu Women’s Right to Property Act of 1937 and the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act of 2005 laid the foundation for women’s equal inheritance rights. These legal shifts, combined with sustained activism, have slowly begun to translate into improved ownership patterns on the ground.State-level differences in property ownership are striking. Meghalaya stands out with the highest proportion, exceeding 65 percent, a figure strongly influenced by its matrilineal social structure and customary laws supported under the Sixth Schedule. Kerala follows, reflecting its historical reforms in princely states that strengthened women’s property rights. Karnataka shows the most remarkable improvement, nearly doubling its share, while Sikkim reports lower levels and even a decline, highlighting the uneven nature of progress across states.Another critical dimension of women’s well-being is the prevalence of spousal violence. At the national level, NFHS-6 records a decline from 29.2 percent to 22.3 percent in the proportion of married women aged 18 to 49 who have ever experienced spousal violence. This represents a significant improvement in reporting trends and possibly changing social attitudes. Karnataka again shows a dramatic reduction, shifting from one of the highest rates to a much lower figure, suggesting the impact of legal awareness, policy intervention, and social dialogue. However, Kerala shows an increase, indicating that progress is not uniform and may be influenced by changes in reporting behaviour or socio-economic stressors.Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, continue to report levels above the national average, underscoring persistent vulnerabilities. Bihar, in particular, remains a concern with the highest reported incidence. While alcohol consumption patterns among men show a slight increase nationally, the association between substance abuse and domestic violence continues to be a critical factor in understanding these trends.The survey also highlights progress in the area of early sexual violence. The percentage of women aged 18 to 29 who experienced sexual violence before the age of 18 has declined nationally from 1.2 percent to 0.7 percent. Improvements are observed across all states, with Karnataka again recording the most significant reduction. Legislative initiatives such as targeted protection laws and fast-track judicial mechanisms have contributed to strengthening legal safeguards, though underreporting remains a concern in sensitive issues like sexual violence.Financial inclusion has emerged as one of the most transformative areas of change. The proportion of women having a bank or savings account that they themselves use has increased significantly to 89 percent nationally. States such as West Bengal and Nagaland have shown remarkable gains, with West Bengal reaching over 95 percent, driven in part by direct benefit transfer schemes linked to women’s bank accounts. Bihar also shows substantial improvement, although a closer look reveals that financial inclusion does not always translate into economic participation. Only a small proportion of women are engaged in paid work, indicating that many accounts may primarily serve as channels for welfare transfers rather than income generation.This disconnect between financial access and workforce participation highlights a deeper structural challenge. Despite widespread banking access, women’s economic participation remains limited, with only around 30 percent of women engaged in paid work nationally. This gap is even more visible in states like Bihar, where high financial inclusion coexists with low employment rates. It suggests that while policy interventions have succeeded in expanding financial infrastructure, they have not yet fully translated into broader economic empowerment.Overall, NFHS-6 underscores the complexity of gendered development in India. While significant progress is evident in areas such as property rights, financial inclusion, and reductions in certain forms of violence, disparities across states remain pronounced. Karnataka emerges as a state showing notable improvements across multiple indicators, whereas Bihar continues to lag in several key dimensions. These variations reflect the importance of regional histories, institutional frameworks, and targeted policy implementation.The findings of NFHS-6 ultimately reinforce the idea that women’s empowerment is a multidimensional process. Legal reforms, economic opportunities, social norms, and state capacity all interact to shape outcomes. Continued progress will depend not only on expanding access to resources but also on ensuring that such access translates into meaningful agency, security, and economic participation for women across India.
