Zepto’s alleged 20-kg internship rule sparks gender bias row, debate online
Quick-commerce company Zepto is facing backlash after a viral job posting for a computer science internship included a requirement to lift 20 kilograms and restricted applicants to male students. The controversy has ignited a debate regarding gender bias and the relevance of physical requirements in tech roles.
Why it matters
It reflects broader societal debates about gender equality in the workplace and the use of physical requirements as potential proxies for discriminatory hiring practices.
We are in 2026. We ostentatiously talk about the glorifying women's empowerment theme and how girls are making space in every sector. Yet, sachets of gender inequality are thrown over almost every aisle we stroll. What does a computer science internship have to do with lifting 20 kilograms? And why, in 2026, would an internship advertisement reportedly specify that it is meant for “all male students”?Those are the questions now swirling around Zepto after a social media post alleging that the quick-commerce company had circulated a campus hiring notice with an unusual mix of academic and physical requirements went viral.The controversy is not merely about a number on a recruitment poster. It raises a more uncomfortable question about the assumptions employers make when deciding who is “fit” for a job.
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