The Architects of 2047: India’s Future and the Unharnessed Female Potential
By 2030, India’s working-age population will surge past 98 crores, a demographic peak that offers a once-in-a-century opportunity. The Economic Survey 2025–26 makes it clear that merely having numbers is not enough; harnessing this dividend requires a decisive structural transition. Currently, only about 2.9 (≈3) out of every 100 working women in India have completed advanced higher education. To achieve the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047 (Viksit Bharat 2047), this figure cannot remain an outlier, it must become the norm.
The Economic Survey indeed suggest a necessary shift in policy thinking i.e., from viewing women through the lens of welfare to positioning them as drivers of growth. Hence, the upcoming Budget is expected to prioritize the structural migration of women from low-productivity agrarian roles into high-value manufacturing and technology-driven sectors. Fiscal measures that support skilling, formalisation, and sector-specific employment absorption would be needed to reduce the cost of this transition for both workers and firms.
To bridge the skills gap necessary for this transition, the Budget may introduce a decisive push in STEM education. A new wave of targeted STEM scholarships and vocational hubs could transform today’s 2.9% into a formidable force powering high-value manufacturing and innovation. Acknowledging that empowerment is impossible without physical security, there is a strong anticipation for increased funding to scale urban housing initiatives like Tamil Nadu’s ‘Thozhi Hostels’ and the national ‘Sakhi Niwas’ program. Furthermore, the government is expected to address the need for flexible work environments. By incentivising firms that institutionalise flexible / hybrid work environment, India can unlock a massive, home-bound talent pool, especially among educated women.
Ultimately, the Union Budget must be more than a ledger of expenditures. It must signal national ambition by clearly integrating this transition into its priorities and allocations. If India is to rise to its $30-trillion destiny, it will not do so on infrastructure and innovation alone, it will have to harness the strength of its female workforce.
LinkedIn format
By 2030, India’s working-age population (age 15-59) will surge past 98 crores. The Economic Survey 2025–26 clarifies that sheer numbers are insufficient, and India requires a decisive structural transition to operationalise Viksit Bharat 2047. Currently, only 3 out of 100 working women in India hold advanced educational degrees (Post graduation or above). To achieve the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, this figure cannot remain an outlier, it must become the norm.
As we look toward Budget 2026, we anticipate a policy shift from “women welfare” to “women led growth” that is enabled through targeted interventions such as:
Sectoral Migration: Fiscal support for skilling and formalization to transition women from agrarian roles into manufacturing and tech.
The STEM Leap: Targeted scholarships and vocational hubs to bridge the skills gap and drive industrial innovation.
Urban Mobility: Expanded funding for safe, affordable housing like ‘Sakhi Niwas’ to reduce the barriers to city-based employment.
Flexible Frameworks: Incentivizing firms to institutionalize flexible work models, unlocking the vast talent pool of educated, home-bound women.
Ultimately, the Union Budget must be more than a ledger of expenditures. It must signal national ambition by clearly integrating this transition into its priorities and allocations. If India is to rise to its $30-trillion destiny, it will not do so on infrastructure and innovation alone, it will have to harness the strength of its female workforce.