Women Gain Ground In Corporate & Government Roles In FY25, Says Government Report

The ‘Women and Men in India 2024’ report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation shows a rise in women’s representation in leadership roles.

In FY25, women held 28.7% of Board positions, up from 26.7% in FY20, while men’s share declined to 71.3%. Women in senior management roles rose to 16.6%, compared to 14.7% earlier. Startup leadership also saw growth, with 17,405 startups having at least one Woman Director in 2024. Women account holders in demat accounts increased to 27.7 million. In government services, the share of women in IES rose to 42.8%.

However, participation in ministerial roles and Parliament remains limited. For every woman hired in FY25, about two men were hired. Maharashtra led in women-led startups at 17.5%. The share of women in the Indian Statistical Service increased to 30.1% in 2024. In the central council of ministers, women’s share fell to 9.72% in 2024. Women’s representation in the Lok Sabha also declined compared to 2019.