Women’s Representation on Indian Corporate Boards Remains Limited Despite Mandates

Women remain underrepresented on boards across Indian companies, with only 17% of board seats in private and small finance banks held by women, according to a study by Venator Search Partners. While regulatory mandates have increased female representation, meaningful influence in executive roles is limited. Broader corporate data from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs shows women hold about 20-29% of directorships in private firms but only 11-20% in state-owned companies, highlighting persistent gender diversity challenges.