A comparative study of gender equality in public and private sector boards in India

The paper explores various dimensions of gender equality on the board of Indian private companies and public sector companies. Through the gendered lens a comparative study is attempted to bring about the inclusivity of women in Indian public and private boards. It is an exploratory research. Secondary data is used to gather information regarding representation of women on the Indian boards of private and public companies. The data for analysis is obtained from annual reports of companies. Women representation on Indian private and public companies board is found not to be satisfactory; however private companies have better proportion of women than public sector. Private companies have better career opportunities than public sector companies. The study provides strengths and weaknesses of public and private sector companies in achieving gender equality. A similar study can be conducted for comparing gender equality for different developing countries like comparing BRIC nation so as to explore straights and weaknesses of the nations in bringing women inclusivity. There is barely any comparative study in literature. To our best knowledge it is for the first time in Indian literature a comparative study for public and private sector companies for gender equality on boards is conducted.