AIMA–KPMG study reveals sharp increase in women leaders in Indian companies
The second AIMA-KPMG Women Leadership in Corporate India Report 2026 has shown a substantial rise in the number of Indian companies with an increased number of women in leadership roles. The report was released by Smriti Zubin Irani, former cabinet minister, during AIMA’s 70th Foundation Day programme.
According to the study, in 2026, 44% of the surveyed organisations had allocated at least 30% of the leadership positions to women, while only 35% of organisations had done so in 2024. The share of organisations with more than 50 per cent women in leadership rose from 12% to 20%.
TV Narendran, President AIMA and CEO and Managing Director, Tata Steel Ltd, said that there is a need for a data-based tracker of progress in gender inclusion at the top, and the AIMA-KPMG report provides insights and recommendations to help organisations and policymakers.
Releasing the report, Irani pointed out that the problem of women’s low presence in India’s corporate workforce is well known, and looking at their rise through the corporate ladder, we know that the ladder is broken. She argued that the key issue is what has been a cohesive or collaborative attempt across sectors by industry.
Introducing the report, Shikha Kamboj, Parter, KPMG in India, pointed out that the satisfaction with leadership development has dropped, and she stressed the need for building systems that support women at every stage.
The report shows that women’s rise to the top depends a great deal on structural and organisational factors, such as formal support systems, leadership development pathways, and enabling workplace policies in strengthening readiness for senior roles. It reveals that flexible work arrangements and transparent advancement criteria are big factors in women staying in the leadership queue.
The key highlights of the study’s findings are Current Scenario and Representation of Women in Leadership; Leadership Pathways, such as Aspirations and Barriers and Leadership Development: Skills and Training.
