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Nari Shakti in the Armed Forces, Col Ponung Doming is commanding the highest task force of the Border Roads Organisation and has set the highest standards, inspiring woman to be a part of the coveted group. In a post on X, the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, said, «Meet Col Ponung Doming, the first woman officer to command the world's highest Border Task Force, stationed above 15,000 feet in the Northern sector. A true trailblazer in the Indian Army, her leadership at such an extreme altitude is a testament to the unwavering strength, resilience, and growing role of women in the #ArmedForces.» «Her journey inspires countless young women to dream big and serve the #nation with pride,» the Ministry of Defence further said.

Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that Nari Shakti in India is breaking barriers, rewriting history and shaping a brighter future for the country. In a post on X, on the occasion of International Women's Day, Sitharaman's office said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's transformative policies and initiatives, women are being empowered with equal opportunities, financial independence, and a stronger role in nation-building. «Nari Shakti in India is breaking barriers, rewriting history and shaping a brighter future for the country,» the post on X reads.

A powerful Indian parallel is Kiran Bedi, India’s first female IPS officer. When she joined the service in 1972, policing was seen as a man’s domain. Bedi not only broke that barrier but took on some of the most challenging roles, from controlling riots to reforming the notorious Tihar Jail. These trailblazers, along with pioneers like Captain Prem Mathur, India’s first woman commercial pilot, and Chhavi Rajawat, the first woman sarpanch with an MBA, remind us that breaking bias is not a one-time act. It is a continuous effort to build a future where equity is the norm, not the exception. While awareness around gender equity has grown, the journey is far from complete. Today, as workplaces evolve, the onus is on CEOs and CHROs to go beyond intent and actively craft environments where every woman can thrive. One way to drive lasting change is through structured accountability. Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is a strong example. By mandating gender pay gap reporting, WGEA has improved transparency and advanced workplace diversity. In 2024, it began publishing employer-specific pay gap data, holding companies directly accountable.

women there. The few of us who were present exchanged knowing glances. It was clear we had grown used to navigating spaces where we were outnumbered, underestimated, and often unheard. Today, that story is beginning to change. Across India and the world, women are no longer waiting for an invitation to the table. They are building their own, pulling up extra chairs, and creating space for others to join. They are not just participating in the tech revolution. They are leading it. Take Debjani Ghosh, the first woman to head NASSCOM, who is championing an inclusive future for India's $245 billion tech industry. Or Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech, the first woman to lead a listed IT company in India, who is steering the organization with a focus on long-term sustainability and social impact. Entrepreneurs like Suchi Mukherjee, founder of Limeroad, are designing innovative platforms that reflect the everyday needs of millions of Indian women.

Trump signed an executive order instructing administration officials to alter a student loan forgiveness program for public servants to exclude nonprofit organizations that engage in activities that have what he called a «substantial illegal purpose.» His order to restrict the program appears to target groups supporting immigrants in the country illegally, diversity initiatives or gender-affirming care for children, among others, as the Trump administration has sought to eliminate federal support for efforts that have drawn right-wing ire. The order, made public Friday, is the latest of many attempts to overhaul the loan forgiveness program, which has often whipsawed borrowers with rule changes and bureaucratic obstacles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to women's strength and contributions on International Women's Day, highlighting their role in various fields. In a post on X, he announced that his social media accounts would be taken over by women achievers for the day, allowing them to share their experiences and achievements. «We bow to our Nari Shakti on #WomensDay! Our Government has always worked for empowering women, reflecting in our schemes and programmes. Today, as promised, my social media properties will be taken over by women who are making a mark in diverse fields!» PM Modi wrote.

International Women's Day uniquely, the Central Railways is operating a Vande Bharat Express with an all-women crew for the first time. The Vande Bharat Express (22223) sourcing from CSMT (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) CSMT to the destination of Shirdi has an all-women crew today, including the loco pilot, assistant loco pilot, train manager, TCs and train Hostesses. Speaking to ANI, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Central Railways said that they have taken same initiative in a goods trains also and will try to continue this initiative in other Vande Bharat trains too.

Vinitaly India Roadshow comes weeks before over 4000 wine producers are scheduled to gather in Verona for the 57th edition of VinItaly 2025 between 6-9 April in Verona at a time when India-Italy relations are at their zenith. “Italy is the first wine producer in the world. But for Italy wine is much more than a beverage or an economic factor” noted the Ambassador of Italy to India Antonio Bartoli. “It is an integral part of the Italian culture. Hundreds of different types of wine testified to the authenticity and diversity of our territories. Wine is a driver of conviviality, togetherness, good-taste and quality. Values and traits that we share with India. We are happy to host this preview in Delhi, knowing how wine can further foster contacts and exchanges between our peoples and Countries” highlighted the Italian Head of Mission. The event which highlights the importance of “Made in Italy” comes at an opportune time, with Deputy Prime Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani, expected to lead a business delegation to New Delhi in early April.

Women in Tech Report 2025. The number of women perceiving their company's diversity efforts as merely symbolic or slow-moving has dropped from 70% in 2024 to 40% in 2025, marking a substantial improvement. Nearly 75% of respondents report that their workplace provides a safe and inclusive environment, found the report. The Breaking Barriers in Tech – Women in Tech Survey Report 2025, in collaboration with Talent500, is based on insights from 3,000 women across IT/ITES, Global Capability Centers (GCCs), startups, and product companies.

By Sunil C, Country Manager, Adecco India

Tech Mahindra in China, addressed a diverse audience representing over 15+ countries. The talk explored India’s rich technological heritage, tracing its roots from Sanskrit texts to the development of large language models tailored to India's diverse dialects. Emphasizing India's commitment to responsible AI, Sharma highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s co-chairing of the Paris Summit as a testament to the country’s leadership in fostering AI for good and for all. The discussion also shed light on India’s thriving startup ecosystem, ranking 19th globally, with Bengaluru securing a spot among the top 10 startup hubs worldwide. India’s substantial new investment of $3 billion in AI infrastructure, the National Quantum Mission, and advancements in AI-driven applications across agriculture, cleantech, spacetech, and healthcare were underscored as key milestones.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. India’s boardrooms remain stubbornly gray, although some transformative strokes are visible. As women slowly move beyond mere presence to actively claim seats at the decision-making table, it’s the smaller firms that are leading the charge.

Quess Corp will list its two new entities Bluspring Enterprises and Digitide Solutions in two months, the company founder-chairman Ajit Isaac told ET on Thursday. The Bengaluru-headquartered company with diverse businesses is moving swiftly to cement the independent identities of new firms. “We are among the few companies that have been on course on the demerger scheme,” Isaac said. The company began the process of demerger two years ago which helped it plan the leadership and governance structures well in advance. The two new companies are a result of the deployment of capital raised through an IPO about eight years ago. “This is a proof of our capital allocation strategy,” he added.

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The property market in the National Capital Region (NCR) has witnessed a clean-up and turnaround in recent times. Now, a new crisis seems to have hit the market, with allegations of cheating and defrauding of homebuyers doing the rounds.

Leo, nestled in Bogota's upscale Chapinero district in the Colombian capital, takes diners on a culinary expedition through the country's diverse biomes. Helmed by chef Leonor Espinosa — voted World's Best Female Chef 2022 by 'The World's 50 Best Restaurants' jury — this acclaimed restaurant spotlights rare local ingredients like copoazu (cacao relative), arrechon (aphrodisiac drink) and bijao (banana-like plant). Espinosa, an economist and artist by training, weaves anthropology and contemporary art into her dishes and the restaurant's sleek, modern setting. The tasting menus — 8 or 13 courses — are a masterclass in creative gastronomy. Delicate starters include mussels with coconut and Galerazamba salt, dried shrimp with snails and ants, the latter lending a nutty crunch. Standout mains feature duck jelly with coquindo oil, sourced from the Amazon, and salt from the Manaure Salt Flats. Leo's menu, 'ciclo-bioma', charts Colombia's ecosystems, highlighting unique species and their culinary potential. A map illustrates Espinosa's sourcing journey, underscoring her commitment to indigenous ingredients.

Makkal Needhi Maiam President Kamal Haasan has strongly criticised the Union government’s plan for parliamentary constituency delimitation, warning that it could weaken India’s federal structure and diversity. Speaking at an All-Party Meeting on the issue, Haasan stated that the move could harm India’s inclusive vision by promoting a homogenised «Hindia.»

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Finance and consulting firms that did not hire with their usual gusto last year are back at Indian business schools with a healthy appetite. Median salaries have risen, along with the number of offers.

Dalmia Bharat, the country's second-oldest cement manufacturer that began its industrial journey in pre-independent India, is investing significantly to build fresh nationwide capacity to meet surging demand from industries as diverse as housing, public infrastructure, and commercial assets. Puneet Dalmia, MD and CEO, announced a capital expenditure of ₹3,520 crore to take Dalmia Bharat's capacity to 55.5 million tonnes a year, cementing its leadership credentials in the rapidly consolidating home market. «India is one of the fastest growing economies, and it is a large economy. So, it offers the benefit of scale,» Puneet Dalmia told ET. «Average per capita consumption is 280 kg, while the global average is 550 kg. In high growth phases, economies have seen cement consumption grow to 750-800 kg per capita. So, there is potential to go 3x from here.» Dalmia acknowledged that short-term headwinds existed in the form of a price war that was driving down margins of players but believes that doesn't change the long-term view. He attributed the price war to a phenomenon where players were prioritising market share over margins in the backdrop of consolidation in the sector.

Public Financial Management System 2.0 to ensure efficient and transparent utilisation of funds of urban and rural local bodies, harnessing the Treasury Single Account (TSA) mechanism. The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is working on a standard accounting process for the urban and rural local bodies and the target is to add at least all large local bodies ahead of FY27, officials said. The move is part of the next set of policy reforms that aim to make local bodies accountable for transparent usage of public money and to prevent fund diversion and delay in allocation of money.

Now in their ninth year, the Women in Investment Awards continue to play an important role in helping accelerate the pace of change towards a more diverse and inclusive investment industry.   Our awards not only honour the inspiring achievements of women across all parts of the investment industry, they also help shape the discussion around how we can improve DEI within the sector.   As well as our headline sponsor Amundi Investment Solutions, we will also be supported this year for the awards by a group of Ally Partners including KKR, Morgan Stanley Investment Management and Nuveen. ...