According to data published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, boardrooms in India continue to be predominantly male-driven and women account for less than a third of directors. However, women between the ages of 31 and 45 appear to have a better chance than those younger or older in boardrooms; Livemint reports.
The Corporate Affairs Ministry which issues director identification numbers (DINs) to directors of companies, issued 281,920 DINs in the first nine months of this financial year.
DINs are used to identify directors who have to file their KYC details to the ministry on a yearly basis, so that the government can keep a track of the ones who are responsible for taking decisions on behalf of companies.
According to the ministry data, the number of males securing DINs was significantly higher than that of females in almost all age groups. The data reveals that in the 31-45 age group, one female secured a DIN for every two males who did so. Similarly, in the 18-30 age group, one female secured a DIN for every three males. In contrast, in the 46-60 age group, the number of males who secured DINs was more than twice the number of females. The trend continued in the 60-plus age group, where the number of females securing DINs was significantly lower compared to males. Specifically, for every female in this age group, there were two to three males who secured DINs.
The Indian government has prioritised promoting women's economic empowerment, with a focus on educating young girls. This initiative aligns with India's commitment to meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were adopted in 2015 and must be achieved by 2030. One of these goals is to improve gender equity, and achieving it involves ensuring that women have equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.