India’s corporate promise of diversity is failing to deliver. A new report by Great Place to Work India reveals that women still make up just 26% of the country’s workforce—a figure frozen in place for the past three years. 

Even more striking, only 8% of CEOs are women, underscoring the persistence of a “broken rung” that keeps female professionals from rising through the ranks.

While women comprise 28% of entry-level individual contributors, their presence steadily shrinks at each leadership stage—falling to 19% at front-line manager level, 16 percent in mid-level roles, 15% at the executive tier, and only 8% at the top.

The report, India’s Best Workplaces for Women & in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) 2025, warns that symbolic commitments and token policies are no substitute for structural reform. “Unless leadership pipelines are deliberately opened and systemic biases dismantled, gender parity will remain stalled,” it cautions.

Attrition, bias, and the ‘boy’s club’ barrier

The study highlights post-maternity career breaks, rigid work models, and opaque promotion pathways as key drivers of attrition and stagnation. Many mid-career women also reported exclusion from decision-making circles, describing workplaces still dominated by a “boy’s club” culture.

Work-life balance remains a pressing issue, with 22% of women saying they don’t experience it. Stress from inflexible schedules and performative hybrid models adds to the strain. “The rigid 9-to-6 schedule doesn’t work for everyone. Flexibility would make me more productive,” one employee noted.

Industry disparities are stark: women dominate in non-profits (47%) and education (41 percent), but remain severely underrepresented in transportation (12%) and biotech-pharma (13%).

Where companies are showing the way

The report also showcases emerging best practices. S&P Global’s “Anytime Promotions” allow career discussions beyond annual cycles. PwC India offers five flexible work models and travel support for new mothers. Brooke Hospitals for Animals provides gender equity leave for menstrual discomfort and fertility treatments.

Other organisations, such as Pracyva Limited and Axis Max Life Insurance, are experimenting with leadership shadowing and support circles to strengthen the women’s leadership pipeline. These examples, the report says, demonstrate that intent can translate into impact when backed by real accountability.

Why equity matters for business

The findings reinforce that workplaces embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) consistently outperform others in productivity, retention, and innovation. At India’s best workplaces, women reported an 8 percent higher positive experience in fairness and benefits compared with peers elsewhere.

But the report warns: without concrete targets, empathetic policies, and leadership accountability, India risks stalling its journey toward an equitable workforce.