Mumbai, June 22, 2026
India’s working women are emerging as key contributors and financial decision-makers within their families. However, a new study by HDFC Life reveals a significant gap between how financially prepared they believe they are and their actual level of financial readiness.
According to the HDFC Life ‘Ready for Life Report 2025’, working women have a perceived financial readiness score of 84, while their actual preparedness stands at 58, indicating a substantial gap of 26 points between perception and reality.
The report highlights that women are increasingly playing a central role in shaping long-term family aspirations. Around 40 percent of women consider their children’s education as a primary savings goal, compared to 35 percent of men. Similarly, 37 percent of women prioritize home ownership, higher than 33 percent among their male counterparts.
Despite growing awareness regarding financial protection and retirement planning, the study points out that action remains limited. Many women have not adequately adopted term insurance solutions, and only 43 percent feel financially prepared to maintain independence after retirement.
Commenting on the findings, Vineet Arora, Executive Director and Chief Business Officer of HDFC Life, said that the contribution of working women extends far beyond household income. He emphasized that women are instrumental in creating financial security and achieving important life goals such as home ownership and children’s education. He further noted that informed financial decisions and greater awareness can help more women achieve long-term financial independence.
The Ready for Life Index 2025 is a proprietary research initiative by HDFC Life and was conducted independently by Ipsos India. The study is based on 1,836 face-to-face interviews with working men and women aged 25 to 55 years across metro, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. It evaluates life readiness across four pillars — Financial Planning, Emergency Preparedness, Health & Well-being, and Retirement Strategy.
The report underscores the importance of strengthening access to protection-led financial planning as women continue to emerge as major decision-makers, thereby contributing to financially sustainable families.
About HDFC Life
Established in 2000, HDFC Life is one of India’s leading listed life insurance companies, offering a wide range of protection, pension, savings, investment, annuity and health insurance solutions. The company has over 60 products and more than 500 distribution partnerships across the country, supported by a strong network of financial consultants.
— TIN24 EDITOR AMIT ALHAT
Author: The India News 24
TIN24 (The India News 24) The India News 24 (TIN24) is a Mumbai-based news Digital Media focusing on breaking news, local and regional issues in India, with content primarily in Marathi. It was established with an X (Twitter) presence since July 2022. Owner & News Editor: Amit Alhat Education: BA in Mass Communication Journalism (Graduate) Experience: 12 years in journalism Platforms: - Website: https://theindianews24.in - X (Twitter): https://x.com/the_indianews24 - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theindianews247 - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theindianews_24
