10 yrs back, only 1 in 20 board members in Indian companies was a woman.

Today, it’s 1 in 5.

This progress is thanks to the Companies Act, 2013, which mandated at least one woman director on the boards of listed companies.

Companies like Zomato (57% women) and Apollo Hospitals (54%) lead the way.

Yet, nearly half of Nifty-500 companies still have just one woman director, highlighting the ongoing challenge of gender equality in boardrooms.

Women bring fresh perspectives and significantly enhance corporate performance, with gender-balanced boards being 20% more likely to improve business outcomes.

However, despite these benefits, true gender equality is still a distant goal.

According to UN Women, it will take 285 years to close the global gender gap.

In India, women face significant barriers to economic participation, from high domestic care burdens to lower workforce representation.

So, how can we accelerate progress?

1. Invest in the Care Economy: By enhancing infrastructure and services, we can reduce the care burden on women, enabling them to participate more fully in the workforce.

2. Promote a Gender-Inclusive Digital Economy: Digital platforms can empower women entrepreneurs and help bridge the gender digital divide.

3. Support Women’s Climate Resilience: Implementing initiatives that help women adapt to and mitigate climate impacts ensures they are part of the solution in sectors like agriculture, water, and disaster management.

Investing in women not only drives inclusive economic growth but also creates a more equitable society.

Let’s continue this momentum and make gender equality a reality.

Image credits : Women Deliver