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Direction (1-7): Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions.

India's labour market is the second largest in the world, after China, with a working age population of about 520 million people. In 10 years, it is expected to be the world's largest as China's population aged 15 to 64 drops from 20.5 to 18.3 per cent.

While this positive demographic growth should be advantageous for business, only a small portion of India's working age population is actually engaged in the formal workforce. The primary reason being that barely one in four women are part of the country's workforce.

Today, industry estimates show that women in India only make up five to six per cent of directorships at most listed companies; after amendments to the Companies Act mandated at least one woman on company boards. These figures underline the highly distorted nature of India's labour market where women hold 45 per cent of university degrees but are either denied employment opportunities or experience much slower career growth trajectories due to gender-based discrimination.

India has the lowest female labour force participation rate in its neighbourhood. At about 27 per cent, it falls well below Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. While female employment is higher in rural India, it is mostly underpaid and temporary labour, though even here the rate of participation is declining. The overall rate of female labour force participation declined as the Indian economy opened up, urbanised, and diversified with the growth of new industries, unlike most other regions in the world.

In fact, rapid growth experienced by the US and China in the past century illustrate how improving the gender balance in the workforce contributes to a nation's economic growth. Female labour force participation is 56 per cent in the US and 64 per cent in China. The above correlation is also strengthened by a 2017 IMF study, which states that increasing the female labour force participation will grow India's GDP by an estimated 27 per cent. Contrast this with the projections made by the government's big idea reforms 'Make in India' and 'Digital India', which aim to boost India's growth by 16 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively. Yet, GDP goals aside, the gender imbalance in India's workforce stunts future prospects for inclusive growth in the country.

It deprives women and girls from postions of role models in the workplace, reduces their motivation to study further, and perpetuates unhealthy socio-cultural attitudes. Leaving out one half of the population from its workforce will also prolong India's status as a developing country. .

What does the given passage highlight?

A) The reasons for declining GDP.

B) Need of more female workforce.

C) Gaps in women empowerment in the workforce.

D) Why India still remains a developing country for long?