1 One in three women in the 18-49 age-group has experienced physical or sexual violence

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) provides comprehensive estimates on Indian women’s experience of physical or sexual violence since the age of 15 (the survey was conducted in the 18-49 years age group, and respondents were asked about incidence of violence since they were 15). The fifth NFHS round (2019-21) shows that 31.5% of Indian women in the 18-49 age group had experienced such violence at least once.

This number is slightly higher than the 2015-16 value but lower than the 2005-06 number. To be sure, the latest NFHS report says that the numbers are not strictly comparable with fourth NFHS round because it sought these responses for women in the 15-49 age group. These numbers are extremely sensitive to reporting errors and could be underestimates. The report says that only one woman per household was selected for this module and responses were only sought if she had the privacy to answer the questions.