Women in Tech: India’s Workforce Hits 32% in 2025 – A Powerful Shift

India’s tech industry is making strides in gender diversity, with women now comprising 32% of the workforce in 2025, up from 29% last year. IT/ITeS and Pharma & Healthcare are leading this transformation, emphasizing inclusive hiring and workplace policies. A recent DE&I study by AIM Research and Chubb found that 75% of companies now have formal DE&I policies, yet only 14% of startups allocate budgets for these initiatives. Bias in promotions and evaluations remains a challenge, with one in four tech leaders acknowledging its presence.

Representation of non-binary and transgender employees also saw a small increase, from 1% to 1.5%. Experts stress that diversity in AI development is critical, as technology often reflects the biases of its creators. Women leaders highlight the importance of moving beyond traditional stereotypes and embracing leadership in their own way. As the industry evolves, fostering inclusivity will be essential for driving ethical innovation and long-term growth.

Women in Tech: India’s Workforce Hits 32% in 2025 – A Powerful Shift

India’s tech sector is experiencing a positive shift in gender diversity, with women now making up 32% of the workforce as of February 2025—an increase from 29% in 2024. This growth is being driven by sectors such as IT/IT-enabled services (IT/ITeS) and Pharma & Healthcare, which are actively fostering inclusive workplaces through targeted policies and initiatives. These findings are part of a recent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) study conducted by AIM Research in partnership with Chubb, evaluating workplace inclusivity across leadership opportunities, company policies, and corporate efforts.

Progress in DE&I Policies

The report reveals that 75% of tech companies now have formal DE&I strategies, up from 68% in 2024. However, gaps remain. Only 14% of startups allocate budgets to DE&I programs, indicating a lack of structured commitment in newer organizations. Additionally, 25% of tech leaders acknowledge that biases still influence promotions and evaluations, highlighting the need for systemic changes in workplace culture.

Challenging Leadership Stereotypes

At Rising 2025—India’s leading summit for Women in Tech & AI—Aditi Olemann, head of marketing at Cashfree Payments, challenged outdated leadership norms. She rejected the notion that women must adopt traditionally male leadership styles, emphasizing that effective leadership transcends gender stereotypes. Her remarks reinforced the growing call for workplaces to empower diverse voices and leadership styles.

The study also found a slight increase in non-binary and transgender representation, rising from 1% to 1.5% over the past year. While this signals progress, it underscores the long road ahead for meaningful inclusion of marginalized groups.

Building Inclusive Workplaces

Supriya Malik, founder of embrace, highlighted the struggles of neurodivergent employees, who often feel excluded or misunderstood. Citing a 2017 report, she shared that 93% of employees with disabilities hide aspects of their identity at work, while 37% face social isolation. Malik emphasized the urgent need for workplaces to implement empathy-driven policies, such as flexible work arrangements and awareness training, to create safer and more inclusive environments.

AI Development and Ethical Concerns

Discussions around AI ethics took center stage, with experts stressing the link between diverse teams and equitable technology. Saranya Gopinath of Razorpay pointed out that inclusive datasets are crucial for minimizing biases in AI systems. However, she cautioned that achieving true diversity in AI development remains a challenge due to underrepresentation in tech roles.

Ritwika Chowdhury, CEO of Unscript.AI, celebrated the historical contributions of women in AI, citing pioneers like Ada Lovelace (the world’s first computer programmer) and Karen Spärck Jones (a pioneer in information retrieval systems). She argued that since women make up half of AI end-users, their active participation in building these systems is essential to prevent biases and oversights.

Bridging the Gender Gap in Tech

Bo Young Lee, president of AnitaB.org Advisory, pointed out a paradox: While Indian women form the majority of STEM graduates, their representation in the tech workforce remains disproportionately low. She attributed this gap to societal expectations and workplace barriers, urging companies to focus on retention through mentorship and career advancement programs. Lee also warned that AI tools like large language models (LLMs) risk perpetuating the ideologies of their creators, reinforcing the need for diverse development teams.

Echoing this sentiment, Shivani Rai Gupta, chief data scientist at Jio, emphasized that women’s contributions to AI should go beyond technical expertise. Their perspectives, she noted, are critical in addressing ethical dilemmas and ensuring that AI solutions do not reinforce social inequalities.

The Road Ahead

While India’s tech industry has made progress in gender diversity, the journey toward true inclusivity is far from over. Companies must move beyond symbolic policies and embed DE&I into their core values—whether through equitable hiring, unbiased evaluations, or better support for neurodivergent employees. Similarly, ensuring diversity in AI development teams will be key to creating fair and inclusive technology.

As the sector evolves, fostering inclusivity isn’t just a moral obligation—it’s a strategic advantage. Diverse teams drive innovation, mitigate risks, and ensure that technology serves all communities equitably. By dismantling barriers for women and underrepresented groups, India’s tech industry can lead the way in ethical and inclusive progress.