Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>The paper examines pattern of gendered informality in Indian labour market using data from PLFS 2021-22 to 2023-24, which shows a persistent gender gap and disparities in employment structures, sectoral distribution and labour outcomes between male and female. The findings of the study reveal female workers remain concentrated in self-employment mainly as unpaid family workers, while male workers dominate own account work and regular wage / salary employment. Sectoral analysis according to broad industry NIC 2008 classification highlights the feminization of rural women in agriculture and urban women in low wage activities, compared with male’s dominant in construction, trade, transport and other physically intensive. Despite similar participation shares in manufacturing sector, female workers are facing disadvantage through lower quality employment and systematic wage gaps. The study reveals strong urban divergence, where rural women are disproportionately tied to subsistence agricultural sector, while urban women remain in informal care and services work. The overall, evidence from PLFS 2021-22 to 2023-24 reveals that gendered informality in India is structurally embedded and remains despite economic expansion.</p>