Chennai: The 10th edition of the Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) report, unveiled by Avtar in partnership with Seramount, has revealed a landmark achievement – women’s representation in leadership positions across corporate India has touched 20% for the first time.
The comprehensive study also highlighted that overall women’s representation in the workforce at Best Companies remains steady at 35.7%.
Best Companies for Women in India: Industry Leaders in Inclusion
Pharma leads the share of women in corporate leadership with 24.8% of executives being women, followed by Global Capability Centres (GCCs) at 22%.
Professional services (44.6%) and ITES (41.7%) record the highest share of women in their workforces, while pharma (25%), FMCG (23%), and manufacturing (12%) continue to expand inclusion initiatives.
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Attrition Trends Among Best Companies for Women in India
The study revealed similar attrition rates for women and men, at about 20%. For both genders, access to better job opportunities is the top reason for leaving.
However, health and well-being challenges emerged as a more significant factor for women’s workplace exits compared to childcare responsibilities.
Top 10 Best Companies for Women in India 2025
The 2025 BCWI edition evaluated 365 companies across sectors, out of which 125 were recognized as Best Companies. The Top 10 Best Companies for Women in India, listed alphabetically, include:
- Accenture Solutions Pvt. Ltd
- AXA XL India Business Services Pvt. Ltd
- Cairn Oil and Gas
- Vedanta Ltd
- EY
- KPMG in India
- Mastercard Incorporation
- Optum Global Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd
- Procter & Gamble India
- Tech Mahindra Ltd
- Wipro Ltd
The complete list is available at Avtar’s official website.
Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI) 2025 Findings
The seventh edition of the Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI) showcased remarkable progress in diversity and inclusion. In 2025, 100% of companies on the MICI focused on People with Disabilities (PwD), up from 58% in 2019.
These organizations collectively employ nearly 9,687 PwDs. LGBTQ+ inclusion has also become mainstream, with 95% of companies prioritizing initiatives, up from 23% in 2019.
Best Companies for ESG (BCESG) 2025 Announced
Avtar also unveiled the first-ever Best Companies for Environment, Sustainability & Governance (BCESG) rankings. The findings revealed that 90% of companies focus on energy efficiency, while 80% have adopted solar power as part of their sustainability strategy.
The Top 10 Best Companies for ESG include Infosys, Tata Communications, Wipro, CGI, Eaton Technologies, EPAM Systems India, GRP Ltd, Lear Corporation, Solenis Chemicals, and UST.
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Commenting on the findings, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Founder-President of Avtar, said, “From an average women’s representation of 25% in 2016, the Best Companies have collectively grown to 35.7% this year. Women in C-suite leadership now stand at 20%, up from 13% in 2016. What’s especially encouraging is that Indian companies now account for 40% of the Best Companies list, compared to 25% in 2021.”
Subha Barry, President of Seramount, added, “This recognition reflects the passion and commitment of leaders creating workplaces where women, LGBTQ+ employees, persons with disabilities, and talent across generations feel valued and can thrive.”
