Young women trail older peers in reaching India’s boardrooms

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.Gender parity in India Inc.’s boardrooms remains distant, and the gap is widest among younger women entering the director pipeline, official data show.A Mint analysis of ministry of corporate affairs data up to January 2026 shows women accounted for 32.5% of more than a million director identification numbers (DINs) issued over the past two years. But in the 18-30 age group, their share dropped to 26%, or roughly one in four of the 339,000 DINs issued, compared with 73.92% for men.DIN—an eight-digit identifier required to serve on company boards—helps track an individual’s involvement across multiple companies, though it does not guarantee a board seat.Representation improved with age.

Women accounted for 35.4% of 449,000 DINs issued in the 31-45 age group. The share was 36% of the 204,000 numbers issued in the 46–60 bracket, and 34% of 71,000 DINs above 60.While it is encouraging to see gradual progress in women’s representation at senior levels, the data highlights a clear gap in the pipeline, particularly among younger women, said Vaishali Nigam Sinha, co-founder, Nasdaq-listed renewable energy company ReNew Energy Global Plc.“Access to early leadership opportunities, mentorship and networks continues to shape how quickly women are able to move into board-ready roles,” said Sinha.Sinha said 40% of the company’s board comprises women, and it is working towards 30% diversity across its workforce by 2030.The Companies Act mandates every listed company and every public limited company with a paid-up capital of ₹100 crore or more, or sales of ₹300 crore or more, to have at least one woman director on the board.“Following the mandate, women directorships have increased three-fold over the