India Drops to 25th in 2026 Gender Equality in Chess Index Despite Improved Scores
India Slips to 25th Place in 2026 Gender Equality in Chess Index Despite Improved Score
In a surprising turn of events, India has dropped to 25th place in the 2026 Gender Equality in Chess Index (GECI), released by the FIDE Women in Chess Commission (WOM) and the University of Queensland on International Women’s Day, March 8. This decline comes despite an overall improvement in its score, raising questions about the country’s commitment to fostering female participation in the sport.
The GECI evaluates female participation and progress across 119 chess federations globally, and while India’s performance score remains impressive at 97.49—indicating that Indian women are highly competitive on the international stage—the participation score tells a different story. With a score of just 18.72, it highlights a significant gap in the number of women engaging in chess compared to other nations.
Mongolia continues to dominate the rankings, holding the top spot with a score of 89.26, followed by Sri Lanka at 86.99 and Uganda at 84.62. India’s score improved from 68.54 to 71.04 since the last edition in 2023, yet it was not enough to prevent the slip in ranking.
Why Did India Lose One Place?
The decline in India’s ranking can be attributed to a decrease in its progress score, which fell from 49.59 to 49.09. While both participation and performance scores saw slight improvements, the overall progress in gender equality in chess appears to have stagnated. Other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, made remarkable strides, jumping 73 places, while Maldives and Uzbekistan also climbed significantly, surpassing India in the process.
Experts suggest that the All India Chess Federation (AICF) must take proactive measures to enhance female participation in chess. Currently, the federation is led entirely by men, with president Nitin Narang at the helm. Advocates are calling for the inclusion of women in leadership roles and initiatives aimed at encouraging girls of all ages to take up the game.
As India reflects on its position in the GECI, the need for a concerted effort to promote gender equality in chess has never been more urgent. With the right strategies in place, there is hope that India can reclaim its standing and inspire a new generation of female chess players.