FICCI Strengthens Women-Led Growth Across India
Monday, March 30, 2026
The FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), the women’s wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), marked the successful culmination of its 42nd Annual Session in New Delhi, highlighting a year of significant national impact and transformative initiatives that reached over 16 lakh women across India.
Celebrating its 42nd year, FICCI FLO showcased its expanding footprint across urban and rural India through a wide spectrum of initiatives focused on entrepreneurship development, skilling, financial literacy, leadership and grassroots livelihood creation. The organisation’s efforts over 2025–26 underscore its growing role as a catalyst for women-led development, aligned with the vision of Developed India 2047. Contd
The event was graced by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting; and Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India; and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of India. The event was further enriched by the participation of prominent voices from across media, industry, policy and public life, reflecting the broad-based national momentum around women-led development and inclusive growth.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India said, “India is today witnessing rapid growth across some of the most advanced sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, space and AI and this transformation is reshaping industries and opportunities across the country. In the electronics manufacturing sector alone, India has seen six-fold growth in the last decade, with exports rising and mobile exports increasing nearly 27 times, with women comprising nearly 60–70% of the workforce in this sector. This reflects the true spirit of women-led development. As India moves towards becoming a USD 4 trillion economy and beyond, quality, innovation and efficiency will define our global competitiveness. I urge organisations like FICCI FLO to lead initiatives in lean systems and AI adoption, especially at the application level, to drive meaningful change across industries and contribute to nation-building.”
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Government of India said,“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Smt. Poonam Sharma, the National President of FICCI FLO, along with all esteemed dignitaries, past presidents, and office bearers, for their remarkable leadership and commitment. I also express my sincere appreciation to FICCI FLO for its impactful contribution towards women's empowerment, spanning grassroots communities to global platforms. Their consistent efforts in enabling opportunities, building capabilities, and fostering leadership among women are truly commendable and play a vital role in shaping a more inclusive and progressive India.”
Speaking on the occasion, Poonam Sharma, National President, FICCI FLO said, “2025–26 has been a defining year for FICCI FLO, marked by scale, inclusivity and measurable impact. Reaching over 16 lakh women across India reflects the strength of our collective efforts to enable entrepreneurship, build skills, and create sustainable livelihoods. Our initiatives - from FLO KAVACH to grassroots skilling and enterprise support-are designed to address real challenges faced by women at every stage of their journey.”
The report findings highlighted that the core challenge lies not in entry (35–45%) but in continuity and advancement. A pronounced “leaky pipeline” causes sharp mid-career drop-offs (3–8 years), with less than 7% women reaching leadership roles. This is driven by structural barriers, including rigid work structures, safety and mobility constraints, disproportionate care burdens, limited access to P&L roles, and sponsorship gaps. Sectorally, leadership conversion remains weak despite strong entry pipelines.
At the same time, ~2.1 lakh women on career breaks in tech (~58% re-employable) present a critical opportunity. While policy frameworks such as POSH, the Maternity Benefit Act, BRSR, and BharatNet provide a strong base, coordinated action across government, industry, and sector bodies is essential- focusing on retention, returnships, care infrastructure, and leadership pathways to enable women-led growth aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047.
