10 Women 'Power Players' of Bio Research & Policy

As revealed in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Economic Survey 202425, for the first time in seven years, India’s female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) has seen a significant rise, jumping from 23.3 per cent in 2017-18 to 41.7 per cent in 2023-24.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

The Economic Survey underscores how women-led businesses thrive under government support. As of October 31, 2024, over 73,151 startups with at least one woman director have been recognised under the Startup India Initiative, nearly half of all registered startups in India.

Additionally, Union Budget 2025-26 has listed new initiatives to support women entrepreneurs across various sectors within the industry. While the number of women entrepreneurs in the country has been increasing over the years, there has not been much change at the women leadership level in both the public and private sectors. There are very few women leaders who have the opportunity to take charge of an entire academic institute or a government posting, thereby contributing to the growth of our country.

For instance, biologist Dr Chandrima Shaha became the first-ever woman president of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), in 2020. In 85 years of its existence, the Academy had never had a woman president until she took over.

Quoting another example, Professor Anju Seth was appointed as the first woman director of the Indian Institute of Management in Kolkata in 2018, but she resigned amidst conflict with the board much before her term got over.