GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT 2013: INDIA RANKED AT 101 PLACE

Global Gender Gap Report 2013, which was published on 25 October 2013 by World Economic Forum- India was ranked 101 out of 136 countries on Gender Gap index.

In 2012 Report, India secured 105th position in the Gender Gap Index of 135 countries.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2013 Report revealed that world’s gender gaps narrowed slightly in 2013 on the back of “definite if not universal improvements” in economic equality and political participation between the sexes.

The worst performing countries are Yemen (136), Pakisthan (135) and Chad (134).

The Report measures the size of the gender inequality gap in four areas:

1.  Economic participation and opportunity – salaries, participation and highly skilled employment

2.  Educational attainment – access to basic and higher levels of education

3.  Political empowerment – representation in decision-making structures

4.  Health and survival – life expectancy and sex ratio

Highlights of the Report

1.  The Global Gender Gap Report 2013 finds 86 out of 133 countries improved their global gender gap between 2012 and 2013, with the area of political participation seeing the greatest progress.

2.  Iceland has the narrowest gender gap in the world, followed by Finland, Norway and Sweden.

3.  Data indicates overall slight gains in gender parity mask the emergence of twin-track paths towards economic equality in many countries and regions.

India Performance:

Global Gender Gap Index 2013- India status- out of 136 countries

1.  India's over all Rank: 101 Place

2.  Political Empowerment: 9th Place

3.  Educational Attainment: 120th Place

4.  Economic Participation and Opportunity: 124th Place

5.  Health and Survival: 135th Place

India also still remains lowest-ranked among the five BRICS nations.

Top ten best performing Countries

Country	Rank
Iceland	1
Finland	2
Norway	3
Sweden	4
Philippines	5
Ireland	6
New Zealand	7
Denmark	8
Switzerland	9
Nicaragua	10

Global Gender Gap Report

1.  The Global Gender Gap Report, introduced by the World Economic Forum in 2006, provides a framework for capturing the magnitude and scope of gender-based disparities around the world.

2.  The index benchmarks national gender gaps on economic, political, education- and health-based criteria and provides country rankings that allow for effective comparison across regions and income groups and over time.

3.  The rankings are designed to create greater awareness among a global audience of the challenges posed by gender gaps and the opportunities created by reducing them.

4.  The methodology and quantitative analysis behind the rankings are intended to serve as a basis for designing effective measures for reducing gender gaps.

World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests.

GANDHARA ART - DIFFERENCE WITH THAT OF MATHURA SCHOOL OF ART

The Gandhara art flourished during the Kushana rule in India. Particularly Kanishka, the greatest of the Kushanas was a great patron of art and architecture. It was during his reign that Gandhara School of art flourished. The new Gandhara style of art that developed in sculpture was a fusion of Greco-Roman and Indian styles.

The characteristic features of the Gandhara School of art was 

(1) The subject was Indian .

(2) The form of art was foreign. 

 The Gandhara sculptors made images of Lord Buddha in the Greco-Roman style. The images of Buddha resembled Greek God Apollo.

• Ajanta is famous for both of  its architectural design as also the paintings on the cave-walls. 

• Of the 29 caves in all 16 contained paintings which have survived. 

• Though the Ajanta is as old as 1st century AD, most of the specimens belong to the Gupta Age. 

• In the paintings decorative designs have been executed with masterly skill.

Main differences between Mathura School of Art and Gandhara School of Art?

Gandhara School of art - 

• Theme is mainly Buddhist, depicting various stories from the life of Buddha. 

• Also, more stress is given to the bodily features and external beaty. 

• Sculptures were made initially on stone and later on Stucco, both grey in color. 

• This school is influenced by Greeco-Roman techniques to a greater extent. 

• One of the reason is definitely the geographical location of the school.

• Gandhara school was heavily influenced by Greek methodologies, the figures were more spiritual and sculpted mainly in grey, and great detail was paid to exact depiction of body parts.

Mathura school of art - 

• Theme may vary from Buddhist to Brahmanical to sometimes secular. 

• More stress is given to the inner beauty and facial emotions rather than bodily gesture. 

• Sculptures were made on White-spotted red stones. 

• These were not influenced by Greeco-Roman techniques to that extent. 

• Several Brahmanical Dieties were first crystallized by this school.

• For the Mathura school, the material was red sandstone, and they were depicted as more human and less spiritual. It was wholly influenced by Indian sculptures.