India's Most Trusted Benchmarking Studies on Inclusion & Sustainability
Participate in the 11th edition of India’s largest gender analytical exercise to gain strategic leverage with authentic and insightful data on policy gaps and industry best practices.
Best Companies for Women in India 2026 (BCWI) Study spotlights organizations showcasing ground-breaking initiatives in gender inclusion.
Hearty Congratulations to the Winners of the 2025 Best Companies for Women, Most Inclusive Companies and Best Companies for ESG!
We are delighted to announce the 2025 Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI)—India’s largest and most comprehensive workplace benchmarking study for gender inclusion, which proudly marks a decade this year. This year’s study shines a spotlight on the unique industry nuances and groundbreaking initiatives of companies that are truly committed to advancing gender inclusion in the workplace. The 2025 BCWI listings feature winners across industry categories, including Consulting, Global Capability Centres (GCC), IT, Manufacturing, FMCG, BFSI, among others.
The “Best Companies for Women – Emerging Icons” list celebrates organisations with a registered MSME certificate.
Now in its 7th year, the Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI) honors organizations for their outstanding efforts in creating workplaces inclusive of women, people with disabilities (PwD), the LGBTQ+ community, and multiple generations and cultures.
This year also marks the maiden edition of the Best Companies for ESG, spotlighting organisations making a sea of difference in the areas of environment, social, and governance.
(All listings are presented alphabetically.)
Position yourself as a DEI front-runner and attract top talent
Leverage industry specific DEI benchmarks
Learn from and be inspired by DEI best practices
Gain access to an exclusive progress monitoring system to track DEI growth
Most Inclusive Companies Index 2026 (MICI) - assesses organizations' maturity in embedding inclusion across systems, practices and culture
Best Companies for Workplace Wellness (BCWW) - recognizes organizations that demonstrate a strong, intentional commitment to employee wellbeing— through systems, leadership behaviors, and culture.
Best Companies for Women in India - Emerging Icons 2026 (BCWI - Emerging Icons) - Study is a cross-industry, data-driven research on companies with employee strength of less than 500 employees in India operations or registered MSMEs.
Best Companies for ESG 2026 (BCESG) - study aims to recognize organizations that demonstrate exceptional Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
Celebrate diversity wins, spotlight inclusive excellence!
Registrations are now open for the 9th edition of Avtar's Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI) study in partnership with Seramount!
Celebrating Inclusion, Spotlighting Excellence!
Registrations are open for 11th Edition of Avtar & Seramount's Benchmarking Studies 2026
Timeline for
BCWI and MICI
2026
Download the yearbook
LATEST EDITION – 2025
Best Companies for Women in India, Most Inclusive Companies Index & Best Companies for ESG
Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI)
Who can participate?
Foundational Offerings
Get a detailed industry report on current trends and best practices, providing you with valuable insights into your field, and to attract top talent.
Gain recognition for exceptional diversity practices and be featured as a gender-inclusive employer, highlighting your commitment to DEI in the workplace.
Leverage our exclusive progress-monitoring platform to measure the effectiveness of your gender diversity initiatives, and optimize your approach to promoting diversity and inclusion.
On-Demand Services
Level I
Report
- Data comparison for each diversity metric against the Top 10 and 100 Best companies.
Level II
Report
- Includes all of Level 1 plus a customized assessment report with recommendations for each key policy cluster compared to the Top 10 and 100 Best companies.
- A compilation of best practices in the Top 10 and 100 Best companies.
Level III
Report
- Includes all of Level 2 plus additional comparison against industry peers in the Top 10 and 100 Best companies.
- Presentation of key findings for senior leadership via an online session.
Top 10 Best Companies for Women in India (2025)
Best Companies for Women in India (2025)
Best Companies for Women in India : Top 10 Emerging Icons (2025)
Best Companies for Women in India : Emerging Icons (2025)
Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI)
Benchmark your organization against the most inclusive companies in India and gain insights into industry trends. The study recognizes companies for exceptional practices towards diversity and inclusion across gender, generation, sexual orientation, physical capabilities, and regional diversity.
Who can participate?
Foundational Offerings
Gain access to corporate India's largest diversity benchmarking platform to compare your diversity practices against market peers and best-in-class DEI strategies across various dimensions.
Get the opportunity to be featured as an equitable and inclusive employer and receive recognition for exceptional diversity practices, demonstrating your commitment to DEI in the workplace.
Leverage our robust tracking tool to measure the effectiveness of your diversity initiatives and identify areas for improvement.
On-Demand Services
Level I
Report
- Data comparison for each diversity metric against the Top 10 and 100 Best companies.
Level II
Report
- Customized Assessment Report with recommendations that include benchmarks against MICI’s winning categories of Champions and Exemplars of Inclusion and best practices.
Level III
Report
- Customized Assessment Report with recommendations that include benchmarks against MICI’s winning categories of Top 10, 100 Best, and best practices.
- Presentation of key findings for senior leadership via an online session.
2025 Most Inclusive Companies Index: Champions of Inclusion
2025 Most Inclusive Companies Index: Exemplars of Inclusion
2025 Best Companies for ESG in India (BCESG)
Winners of Male Ally Legacy Awards
2023
This is a recognition program for senior male leaders from corporate India who have successfully mentored women professionals supporting and promoting their career growth.
Ajay Vij
Country Managing Director,
Accenture in India,
Winner
Winner
Ajay Vij
Country Managing Director, Accenture in India
Ajay Vij’s visionary yet practical approach to making Accenture in India as equal and inclusive as possible is the guiding light for the organization’s DEI efforts covering policies, programs, and new initiatives. With over 17 years at Accenture in India, Ajay has consistently ‘walked the talk’ by bringing a nuanced and purposeful leadership approach to advancing DEI outcomes.
Goutham Parcha
Vice President, Engineering,
Pegasystems
Choice of jury
Choice of Jury
Goutham Parcha
Vice President, Engineering, Pegasystems
Goutham has emerged as an exemplary leader in championing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) within the organization. His profound impact on regional DEI efforts is marked by unwavering commitment and expertise, laying a robust foundation for substantial change. Engaging with the DEIB team, Goutham imparts invaluable knowledge and guidance, empowering the development of highly effective DEIB strategies.
Rahul Murdeshwar
Senior Accounting Director, Dow India
Choice of Jury
Choice of Jury
Rahul Murdeshwar
Senior Accounting Director, Dow India
Rahul Murdeshwar is an exceptional male ally, a title he has rightfully earned through his dedicated actions. Rahul has always believed in creating an inclusive environment. He is a determined individual known for his systematic and well-planned approach to everything he undertakes. As the Dow India ERG sponsor for the Women Inclusion Network (WIN) and a mentor for the WeMerge program, Rahul embodies inclusive leadership by fostering an atmosphere wherein all individuals feel comfortable expressing themselves. Rahul's strategic mindset and pleasant leadership style make him a go-to leader.
Winners of Avtar & Seramount Social Excellence Award
2023
This is a recognition programme aimed at identifying and celebrating the most impactful social impact initiative amongst applicant companies.
Teleperformance
project: A Force of Good #InspiredToCare
Winner
Winner
Teleperformance
A Force of Good #InspiredToCare
Teleperformance is dedicated to being a Force Of Good and making the world a better place for all,with CSR being a part of its strategic initiatives in India for over two decades.The primary focus is to build sustainable CSR initiatives with a 360-degree approach. The passion for making a positive impact continues to be reignited with each passing year by fortifying partnerships that drive positive change and benefit communities. Teleperformance COTW – CITIZENS OF THE WORLD Citizen of the World (COTW) is Teleperformance’s charitable initiative that seeks to generate a positive impact on local communities, particularly vulnerable children and women. A key differentiator of COTW is the collaboration with the most suitable implementing partners. It covers customized learning programs and facilities, computer literacy, remedial education, life skills, career-oriented initiatives, and more.
Sony Pictures
Project:
Livelihood Skills Training
for Women
Choice of Jury
Choice of Jury
Sony Pictures
Livelihood Skills Training for Women
Empowering women towards economic and social independence is not just a belief at SPNI; it's a resounding commitment to fostering positive change. Through Livelihood Skills Training Program, the organization and its partners have embarked on a transformative journey, aiming to empower marginalized women and girls. This initiative isn't just about skills; it's about creating opportunities for them to Tell Stories Beyond the Ordinary. Curated for diverse contexts, both urban and rural, the approach focuses on equipping women with the skills and tools needed to be self-reliant and competitive, while keeping their current skills in mind. Our geo-customized interventions have impacted over 2,500 women, each story a testament to the potential unleashed when empowerment meets tailored support. In one such initiative, the initiative reached out to young graduate women, many of whom were firstgeneration learners, preparing them for the jobs of the future through AI training. The venture went beyond classrooms and involved extensive outreach, screening, and training sessions on AI, life skills, and placements.
Citibank
Project:
Self Shakti and Gelathi Programs
Choice of Jury
Choice of Jury
Citibank
Self Shakti and Gelathi Programs
Aligned with the ethos of providing access to education, eradicating poverty, and ensuring diverse and inclusive future generations, Citi and Buzz Women have directly impacted over 314,278 women through an innovative and empowering model for doorstep financial literacy since 2016. ‘Self Shakti’ provides women with training on building relationships, family budgeting, basics of enterprise, goal setting, and management of credit, assets, and liabilities. During sessions, trainers identify a Gelathi (community anchor) who receives additional capacity building through the Spoorthi Fellowship on topics like self-awareness, communication for influencing, community and collaboration, and conflict resolution.
Frequently asked questions
How many benchmarking studies can organizations participate in during 2026?
Best Companies for women in India (BCWI)
Most Inclusive Companies Index (MICI)
Best Companies for Workplace Wellness (BCWW)
Best Companeis for ESG (BCESG)
What is new in BCWI?
2025 BCWI will have two tracks: Track 1 is for companies with 500 or more employees. Track 2 is for companies below 500 employees or Registered MSMEs in Indian operations can also apply to this segment.
Best Companies listing in 2025 will have industry categories – “Best Companies in Consulting”, “Best Companies in IT”, “Best Companies in manufacturing”, “Best Companies in FMCG”, “Best companies in BSFI”, etc. All listings will be alphabetical in nature. The trailblazing Top 10 companies across industries, will be honored as a separate alphabetical list.
Are there separate application forms for Track 1 and Track 2?
Yes – there are separate application forms for Track 1 and 2.
Is my company eligible for BCWI?
If your company runs operations in India with more than 500 employees, you’re eligible to apply for BCWI – Track 1.
If your company runs operations in India with less than 500 employees, you’re eligible to apply for BCWI – Track 2 (Emerging icons).
Is my company eligible for MICI?
If your company runs operations in India with more than 500 employees, you’re eligible to apply for MICI.
What is the registration fee for participating?
BCWI and MICI are not a pay-to-participate exercise. All the participating companies will receive a free scorecard.
Why should my company apply for BCWI?
Participating in BCWI exposes your company to the industry’s largest inclusion benchmarking platform. You gain access to tools that assess your gender diversity initiatives and allow you to share and learn best practices from other top companies. Your company can get recognized for its efforts in gender diversity and present itself as a gender-inclusive employer.
Why should my company apply for MICI?
Participating in MICI helps your company get recognition for its efforts to nurture diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It gets the opportunity to learn and share best practices from peer companies and assess where it stands with DEI benchmarking. Plus, it can feature itself as an equitable and inclusive employer!
What is BCESG study?
Best Companies for ESG (BCESG) aims to recognize organizations that demonstrate exceptional Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
What is BCWW study?
BCWW recognizes organizations that demonstrate a strong, intentional commitment to employee wellbeing—not just through programs, but through systems, leadership behaviours, and culture.
To participate in BCWW, the company should register either in BCWI and or MICI.
What is the participation process?
All the studies involve three simple steps:
Registration: Please click here to register: : https://www.avtarcc.com/enrich/best-companies-for-women-in-india-bcwi/
E-signing of COP: The application form will be released after submitting the duly signed Confirmation of Participation (COP).
Application submission: The last date to submit the completed application form with all the data is May 31st, 2026
Which areas does BCWI assess?
The application includes 300+ questions that cover areas like Workforce Profile, Women’s Recruitment, Retention and Advancement, Safety & Security, Flexible Work, Parental Leave & Benefits, Benefits & Work-Life Programs, and Company culture & Management Accountability.
Can my company quote policies executed in the past?
Yes, policies implemented in the past years can be quoted in your application.
Can my company apply offline?
No, all BCWI registrations are online via the stated application form only.
How flexible is the application link? Can we log out after partially filling data on the link? Will data be saved?
Yes – data will be saved. The ‘Next’ button at the bottom of every page also doubles up as the ‘Save’ button. As you click ‘Next’, all data up until that page is saved and synced with the server.
Should all policies that we quote in the application form be necessarily policies in our rule books?
Not necessarily. You can account a particular program/initiative/practice that has seen a structured execution in your company in the past year
Is there some data validation that we should do before we submit our application?
Yes. Please ensure that your responses adhere to the basic business rules on the form. For example, the number of employees across all levels should sum up to the total number of employees.
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