1 hr ago
Chennai Ranks Second In South India For Women’s Workplace Representation
A study looked at how many women work in leading companies in India.
Chennai had women making up 39.1% of employees in these companies.
This was the second-highest share among South Indian metro cities.
Bengaluru was first, while Hyderabad was slightly behind Chennai.
Across the best companies nationally, women made up 34.6% of employees.
However, fewer women were in the highest executive positions than the year before.
Women held 16.7% of those roles in 2026, compared with 20% in 2025.
The study’s leaders said companies now need to help more women advance into leadership.
Chennai recorded 39.1% women’s representation among India’s best companies for women.
Bengaluru led South Indian metros at 41.1%, followed by Hyderabad at 38.9%.
Women held 16.7% of corporate executive roles, down from 20% in 2025.
The national representation rate among the best companies was 34.6%.
The 2026 study covered 387 companies, with 125 included on the Best Companies list.
- Who
- Women employees, Indian companies, Avtar Group, Seramount, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, and Subha V. Barry.
- What
- The 2026 Best Companies for Women in India study reported women’s workplace representation and a decline in their share of top executive roles.
- Where
- Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, and companies across India.
- When
- The study was released on Wednesday and reports 2026 figures, compared with 2025 executive-role data.
- Why
- The study examined women’s representation and workplace outcomes among leading companies in India.
Key facts
- Chennai representation
- 39.1% among the best companies for women in India
- South Indian ranking
- Second, behind Bengaluru
- Bengaluru representation
- 41.1%
- Hyderabad representation
- 38.9%
- National representation
- 34.6% among the best companies
- Women in executive roles
- 16.7%, down from 20% in 2025
- Study coverage
- 387 companies surveyed; 125 made the Best Companies list
Quotes
Dr Saundarya Rajesh
Managing director of Avtar Group
“As we look beyond 2026, our focus must be on turning strong practices into stronger outcomes: more women advancing, greater mobility, and stronger pipelines of women leaders.”
deccanchronicle.com
“Wellness and inclusion are not separate agendas; they reinforce each other.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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