Global DEI chill reaches India Inc: Women’s climb to the top stalls as share of Corporate Executive roles slips to 16.7%, finds 2026 Avtar & Seramount Best Companies for Women in India study

 

 

Chennai, Sept 09: Women’s progress into India Inc’s corner offices has stalled. The 11th edition of the Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) study, released today by Avtar Career Creators Limited, India’s leading workplace culture consulting and inclusion solutions company, in partnership with US-based Seramount, a global workforce and talent solutions firm, finds that women now hold 16.7% of Corporate Executive roles among Best Companies, down from 20% in 2025. The decline at the top comes alongside a broader softening. Overall women’s representation among Best Companies dropped to 34.6% this year, down from 35.7% in 2025, even as Top 10 companies held steadier at 42.8%. After eleven years of steady gains, the data sends a clear message: progress cannot be taken for granted.

A total of 387 companies participated this year, of which 125 made it to the Best Companies list. The participating organizations span a diverse range of industries. Of the Best Companies, 37% are Indian companies and 63% are MNCs. 

 

 

Professional Services continues to lead, with women making up 45.6% of its workforce, followed by ITES at 39.8% and the Global Capability Centre (GCC) sector at 38.1%. At the other end, the pharmaceutical sector dropped to 17.3% this year from 24.6% in 2025, while Manufacturing continues to lag at 13.1%. Both sectors signal continued room for intensified inclusion efforts.