Women’s representation in senior corporate roles falls; Avtar flags US DEI pullback
A study by Avtar-Seramount shows a decline in women's representation in senior corporate roles in India, dropping to 16.7% in 2026. Experts attribute this partly to a global pullback in DEI initiatives following U.S. policy shifts.
Why it matters
The decline suggests that global corporate policy trends significantly impact gender diversity progress in emerging markets like India.
Women’s representation in senior corporate positions in India has declined, with their share of Corporate Executive roles at companies featured in the Avtar-Seramount Best Companies for Women in India study falling to 16.7% in 2026 from 20% a year earlier.
Overall, women’s representation across the companies surveyed fell to 34.6% from 35.7%, while their share of hiring declined to 36% from 38%, according to the 11th edition of the study.
The findings come after years of progress in women’s representation at the senior-most levels. Avtar Managing Director Saundarya Rajesh attributed part of the setback to a global pullback in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump in January 2025.
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