Vedanta Group has made a minimum 35 per cent representation of women at every level of management mandatory, as part of its efforts to build a more gender-inclusive workforce.
Anil Agarwal, chairman, Vedanta Group, has urged companies across industries to adopt similar measures to strengthen women’s participation in leadership and accelerate workplace equality.
In a post on X, Agarwal stressed that organisations must move beyond acknowledging gender diversity and take concrete steps to ensure women have equal access to career opportunities, leadership positions and fair compensation.
Drawing on Vedanta’s experience, he pointed out that women bring diverse perspectives, distinct leadership approaches and valuable capabilities to organisations. Their contribution, he noted, can improve productivity and strengthen decision-making across different levels of the workforce.
Agarwal also underlined that gender inclusion must extend to equal pay for equal work and transparent opportunities for professional advancement. He called on employers to create workplace environments in which women can develop their capabilities, progress into senior roles and realise their professional potential.
Agarwal linked greater female workforce participation to India’s broader economic ambitions, observing that women account for almost half the country’s population. Their increased representation in organisations and leadership positions, he believes, will be critical to the country’s economic and social development.
His appeal places the responsibility on corporate India to make gender diversity an organisational priority rather than treat it merely as a policy commitment.
For HR leaders, the 35 per cent benchmark raises important questions around hiring, succession planning, leadership development, pay equity and retention.
Achieving meaningful representation will require organisations to build stronger talent pipelines and ensure women have the support and opportunities needed to advance at every stage of their careers.