Women Entrepreneurs

The investment proposals span hospitality, biotechnology, manufacturing, agribusiness and renewable energy, with the potential to create more than 4,300 jobs

Women-led MSMEs are surging in Odisha, with registrations rising eightfold in six years as policy support helps first-generation entrepreneurs create jobs

Optimism implicit in the ASUSE data should not suggest a dynamic change in women's participation rate in the workforce swot

NSO's ASUSE 2025 shows cities with more women-owned informal businesses also have higher female employment, with manufacturing and services driving greater participation

More women entrepreneurs are getting loans, but limited access to larger business credit is restricting their growth, exposing deep structural gaps in India's MSME lending system

UP's GeM purchases from women entrepreneurs jump 44 per cent in FY26, as the state leads India in transparent public procurement and boosts startups and MSMEs

Deal activity also fell significantly, with the number of funding rounds dropping 29 per cent from 2024

Women form 23% of employees in listed firms but only 5% of CEOs or MDs, highlighting a steep drop in representation as one moves up the corporate hierarchy

India's female labour force participation rate stood at 32 per cent in 2024, significantly lower than several peer economies

Many organisations suffer a "missing middle" in terms of gender diversity, with women dropping out at demanding mid-management levels because of non-conducive social ecosystems

Announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, the SHE Mart initiative aims to empower rural women by establishing community-owned retail outlets managed by women SHGs

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday transferred Rs 10,000 each to the bank accounts of 25 lakh women under the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana', which aims to promote women's empowerment through self-employment and livelihood opportunities. Kumar disbursed a total amount of Rs 2,500 crore through direct benefit transfer (DBT) at a function held here at his official residence, 1 Anne Marg, officials in the CMO said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched Bihar's 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana' in September, 2025. Around 1.81 crore women have so far received Rs 10,000 each, and those who have utilised the sum for setting up a business will soon get another Rs 2 lakh, the officials said. The chief minister had recently announced that the Bihar government initiated the process of providing additional financial assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh to select beneficiaries under the scheme.

At present, there are over 19,000 startups recognised by the Central Government's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in the state, according to a senior official

The enterprises will take shape in the hinterland with the Yogi Adityanath government offering training, credit and marketing support across 75 districts

HR is now a strategic voice shaping people, culture, and business. In this episode, Urvi Aradhya, CHRO at K Raheja Corp, shares insights on comebacks, leadership, diversity, and the future of HR.

Gender gaps persist in India, Nigeria, Kenya as women face barriers from entry-level to leadership, with sharp drop-offs in managerial roles, shows McKinsey report

MSME-focused fintech Progcap on Tuesday said it has launched a programme to offer collateral-free loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to women-led small and medium enterprises in the next three years. The fintech, which is backed by Peak XV (previously Sequoia Capital India), Google and Tiger Capital, among others, seeks to empower 10,000 women-led MSMEs in semi-urban and rural India by FY27, Progcap said in a statement. "Progcap has introduced ProgShakti Development Program, wherein women entrepreneurs can access loans of up to Rs 10 lakh and get certified through capacity-building knowledge sessions helping them grow their businesses," it said. Aligned with the government's 'Viksit Bharat' vision for 2047 and the goal of increasing women's workforce participation to 70 per cent, Progcap's initiative offers customised credit to women-led enterprises and eliminates the need for a male co-applicant while assessing the creditworthiness, Progcap said. Founded by Pallavi Shrivastava and Himanshu

The joint initiative by CAIT and ADSEI will integrate with key government schemes such as 'Lakhpati Didi' and other flagship programmes

International Women's Day: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended these trailblazing women for their remarkable contributions to society and their role in shaping a developed India

India ranks third globally after US and UK in funding raised by women-led tech startups