A recent study reveals a concerning setback for women in corporate leadership across India. The proportion of women holding corporate executive positions among India’s Best Companies for Women has fallen to 16.7% from 20% in the previous year. This decline reverses years of incremental progress and raises questions about India Inc's commitment to gender diversity at a time when economic growth demands broader workforce participation.
Details of the Decline
The findings, part of the 11th edition of the Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) study by Avtar Career Creators in partnership with Seramount, indicate that overall women’s representation in the workforce also slipped from 35.7% to 34.6%. The drop is particularly sharp at the leadership level, where the share of women in executive roles had consistently climbed from 13% in earlier years to 20% in 2025.
Dr. Saundarya Rajesh, Managing Director of Avtar Group, described these figures as an “early warning” and an “extremely worrying trend.” She emphasized that a reduced number of women in the workplace is detrimental to India’s progress, especially as AI reshapes the job market, potentially leading to “jobless growth” where technological productivity gains don’t translate into sufficient new employment opportunities.
Global Pullback vs. India's Needs
The study highlights a significant disparity based on company headquarters. Women constitute 31.4% of the workforce at India-headquartered Best Companies, compared to 41.1% at US-headquartered firms and 39.2% at companies based in other countries. This gap widens further at the leadership level: women hold only 14.2% of executive roles at India-headquartered companies, contrasting with 18% at US-headquartered and 20% at other foreign-headquartered organizations.
Dr. Rajesh points to a global pullback in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, particularly among American multinationals. She argues that global companies operating in India must adopt India-specific strategies for women’s workforce participation, rather than simply replicating policies from their home markets. India, she asserts, needs more women in its workforce to bolster consumption, drive economic growth, and achieve its ambition of becoming a developed economy.
Pathways to Progress
Despite the overall decline, some areas show promise. The top 10 Best Companies in the study have maintained better performance, with women making up 42.8% of their total workforce, suggesting that deeply embedded inclusion practices yield more sustainable progress. Additionally, 83% of India-headquartered Best Companies offer formal second-career programs, outperforming their foreign counterparts. These initiatives are crucial for helping women return to work after career breaks.
Geographically, Bengaluru leads Indian metros with 41.1% women’s representation, while Delhi-NCR lags at 28.5%. The business case for inclusion remains strong, with 79% of surveyed companies reporting increased profits and improved customer satisfaction linked to better workplace culture, and 74% noting enhanced innovation or revenue outcomes.
Policymakers also have a role to play. Dr. Rajesh suggests that the government, through ministries like Women and Child Development and Commerce and Industry, could encourage or mandate India-specific strategies for women's workforce participation, offering to contribute policy guidelines. For India Inc, ensuring that a global retreat from DEI does not become an Indian retreat from women’s economic participation is an economic imperative for faster growth and a stronger formal workforce.