India has reinforced its commitment to improve the lives of women and girls by initiating large, innovative programmes and new funding since 2005. Cash payments to new mothers who give birth in health facilities and bicycles for girls who stay in school have been introduced on a wide scale. However, inequality and discrimination are still pervasive particularly in India’s poorest states. The World Economic Forum’s 2011 Global Gender Gap Report ranks India 113th out of 135 countries.

Over time, the UK is moving from an aid relationship with India to a mutual, two-way partnership on critical global development issues, including trade, global growth, climate change, and food security.