March 22, 2025: India may be growing economically, but how does it fare on social indicators like civic behaviour, safety, gender attitudes and diversity? A recent survey, which covered 21 states and one Union Territory, revealed some surprising insights.

Civic behaviour: A mixed bag

The survey assessed civic behaviour, including adherence to public rules. While 85% of respondents disapproved of evading transport fears, govt data revealed that 3.6 crore cases of ticketless travel were detected in 2023-24. Another striking statistic was that 61% of respondents were willing to pay bribes to get things done, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list.

Digital payment on the rise:

On a positive note, the survey found that 76% of respondents prefer online payment to cash, with Delhi leading the charge at 96%. This trend got a boost after the demonetization move.

Gender attitudes: Progress and Patriarchy

The survey on gender attitudes revealed a nation caught between progress and patriarchy. Kerala topped the list in terms of gender parity, while Uttar Pradesh ranked at the bottom. While 93% of respondents believed that daughters deserve the same educational opportunities as sons, and 84% supported women pursuing career outside of their home state, 69% still felt that male family members should have the final say in major household decisions.

The path to development:

The survey highlights that social development is just as important as economic growth. India needs to focus on improving social metrics like diversity, gender equality, civic behaviour etc to truly develop as a nation.