Women in India Inc: Representation remains poor despite regulatory push

Currently, about 43 companies in the top 500 are yet to appoint women independent directors

Gender diversity in the corporate world remains a pipe dream. At present, women occupy only 17 per cent of India Inc’s board seats. Globally, around 20 per cent directorships at listed companies were held by women. Asian and emerging markets are below the global average, while Europe and North America fare well. France and Italy have over 40 per cent women directorships.
 
At the end of 2013, women directors accounted for only 5.3 per cent of total directorships at domestically listed firms. The jump has come on the back of a regulatory diktat in 2016, mandating listed firms to