India, March 5 -- India's rank improves from 126 to 113

Legal rights for women worldwide are significantly lower than initially perceived, according to a new report by the World Bank Group. When considering legal distinctions related to violence and childcare, women are found to have less than two-thirds or 64 per cent of the rights enjoyed by men, it has found. Earlier estimates projected women had 77 per cent of the rights.

Eliminating discriminatory laws and practices hindering women from working or initiating businesses could result in a more than 20 per cent increase in global gross domestic product. This, in turn, has the potential to double the rate of global growth in the upcoming decade, the World Bank said.

Women, Business an...