WER Week Wrap: Indian Women's Growth from Policy Action to Startup Ambitions

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 16 October 2026

A woman steering a public transport vehicle, a founder securing capital for her next venture, and a leader taking charge of a key institution may occupy different sectors, yet each reflects a shift in how women participate in the economy and society. Across India and beyond, developments such as these are adding new dimensions to women’s participation in business, public life, and society. This edition highlights these advances, ranging from policies that have opened doors for women's safety, mobility and opportunities to build businesses to leadership roles and success in sports and cultural conservation. It also examines startup investments, initiatives supporting women-owned enterprises, and industry figures that offer insight into their economic contribution.

WER brings you the latest updates on Indian women’s achievements, emerging opportunities, and the policy and industry developments influencing their lives, careers, and entrepreneurial ambitions.

Public Policy: New Measures Broaden Opportunities for Women

From safer streets and new transport careers to dedicated start-up support, recent government initiatives are addressing women’s empowerment through practical opportunities, stronger protection systems, and greater economic participation.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called for coordinated support systems for women and children at the National Departmental Summit for Women and Child Development. She proposal for greater connections between helplines and One Stop Centres, enhanced access to counselling and legal assistance, more assertive measures against child marriage and robust implementation of workplace harassment laws. The use of CCTV, bus marshals, panic buttons, and self defence training were also mentioned as ways of enhancing public safety.

Delhi is also advancing women’s economic involvement through the DURGA E-Auto Scheme, which will take 1,300 pink electric autorickshaws to the roads. Of these, 1,170 vehicles are allocated for women and 130 for transgender individuals. Alongside creating income opportunities, the initiative aims to improve last-mile connectivity through app-based bookings and dedicated charging facilities.

In Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation is in alliance with Azad foundation to impart training skills to women in commercial driving. The program's purpose is to enable women, especially from the marginalised communities, to enter the profession of transportation and to make them more financially independent, including in coverage of two-wheelers and four-wheelers.

In parallel, Maharashtra is making efforts to keep a niche for female entrepreneurs as a start-up hub, in partnership with the Maharashtra State Innovation Society and Udyati Foundation. The hub will bring together entrepreneurs, mentorship, funding, market, and government schemes. A proposed women’s start-up index will also track entrepreneurial progress across departments and districts.

The real change lies in helping women feel safer, earn a steady income, explore new career paths, and build businesses of their own.

Top Appointments: Women Assume Key Leadership Positions

Senior officials in the Indian administration are being reshuffled, with new portfolios being assigned to them across departments, corporate regulation and energy security. They add diverse backgrounds and skills to a range of institutions, including public administration, financial regulation and niche security functions.

The government of Andhra Pradesh have reshuffled IAS officers at various departments and public sector organizations. Amrapali Kata has been appointed as the Secretary, Tourism & Culture and Saurabh Gaur as Officer on Special Duty at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan, New Delhi. Other appointments include Tribal Welfare, Civil Supplies, Agricultural Marketing and Industries and MSME.

Tanvi Sundriyal, 2010 batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs with effect from August 25, 2015 till August 25, 2030 or till further order. She has credentials in district administration, rural development, finance and public-sector institutions from her time at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, where she served as Director.

On the other hand, Pratiksha Godara (2011 batch IPS officer, AGMUT cadre) has been selected as Advisor in GAIL (India) Limited for three years on deputation with the rank of Deputy Inspector General. In 2023, she became the first woman officer of IPS to be appointed as DCP in the Special Cell of Delhi Police. She was awarded Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak for special operations in 2025.

As these officers step into their new assignments, their varied experience will inform the next phase of work across public administration, corporate affairs, and energy security.

Women Achievers: Celebrating Milestones Across Diverse Fields

In sport, public transport, rural entrepreneurship and cultural heritage, the women are creating new opportunities to contribute to society and increasing their influence in various areas.

Smriti Mandhana, the Indian women’s cricket captain has been appointed as UNICEF India Celebrity Advocate on October 11, 2026, as part of the International Day of the Girl. She will leverage her athletic influence to advocate for girls' rights, education, leadership, well-being, and gender equality to create opportunities for youth to achieve their potential.

Odisha's first woman electric bus driver Shubhalakshmi Mahananda is spreading the message of women's participation in the public transport system. Driving an Ama Bus operated by Capital Region Urban Transport in Kendujhar, she represents expanding career opportunities in sustainable mobility. Her achievement comes as Bhubaneswar prepares to host the 19th Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo on October 23–24, 2026.

In the meantime, at the National SARAS Mela in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, around 1,500 women entrepreneurs from 34 States and Union Territories from the rural areas came together. There are over 650 stalls at the exhibition, featuring items produced by the women's Self-Help Groups, giving opportunities to access customers and grow businesses. President Droupadi Murmu engaged with the participants and emphasized on financial independence, livelihood creation and women entrepreneurship.

At the 13th Annual Kumpei Kazip 2026 held at the University of Delhi, organised by Tangkhul Shanao Ngarumsak Long Delhi, cultural heritage continued to be a significant focal point. The event celebrated Tangkhul women’s contributions to families, cultural preservation, and nation-building through performances and discussions exploring women’s experiences across entrepreneurship, education, arts, and family life.

These achievements of the women reflect the tremendous impact they are making in the areas of economic participation, community well-being and social progress in India.

Funding Milestones: Fresh Capital Drives Business Expansion

From skincare shelves to dental clinics and lunar landscapes, India’s startup funding activity is spanning increasingly diverse markets, with businesses securing fresh capital to scale operations, develop new technologies, and reach wider audiences.

Nat Habit, rebranded as Breathe Life, is raising ₹142.6 crore ($15 million) in a Series C funding round led by Trident Growth Partners. The natural personal care brand plans to invest in expansion and brand building. Its FY25 revenue climbed 47.2% to ₹106 crore, although net losses increased to ₹29 crore.

MakeO, the parent company of clear aligner brand Toothsi, has raised ₹90 crore ($9.5 million) in a round, led by Singularity AMC. The company intends to grow its business in India and Southeast Asia. MakeO is aiming to double its revenues over two to three years, with consolidated revenues of ₹500 crore and profitability in 2026 in terms of EBITDA.

In the meantime, Cosmochute is focusing on an entirely new territory. The space robotics start-up received a pre-seed investment of $1.5 million to lead a round by Accel and Prosus Ventures under the Atoms X program. The new capital will be used to develop and expand the product engineering and its LEAP platform for payload transport and deployment on the Moon.

These investments reflect three investment goals: growth within the Consumer Brands business, growth of technology-based healthcare solutions and the development of infrastructure for future space missions.

Startup Spotlight: Entrepreneurial Support Opens New Growth Avenues

For women building businesses, growth often depends on more than a promising idea. Access to timely funding, the right expertise, and institutions that understand their needs can determine how far a venture progresses.

In Maharashtra, a proposed women’s startup hub will bring government departments, ecosystem partners, and support organisations onto a common platform. The Maharashtra State Innovation Society and Udyati Foundation have signed a MoU to facilitate mentorship, financing, market connections, and business acceleration. Plans to introduce a women’s startup index will further help assess entrepreneurial progress across districts and government departments.

In order to expand business, Andhra Pradesh is going on a direct route by enhancing access to credit. Stree Nidhi has launched a special loan product where those who are members of self-help groups and have been selected for it will be provided with loans up to ₹3 lakh at an annual rate of 11% within 48 hours. The state has allocated ₹3,000 crore to support women entrepreneurs for capital to start new businesses or existing businesses in 2026–27.

In Jammu & Kashmir, emphasis is being laid on enhancing the effectiveness of the institutional support. The Minister for Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo, pointed out the importance of establishing trust, streamlining administration and involving beneficiaries in the activities of the Corporation at the 31st Board meeting of Jammu & Kashmir Women's Development Corporation.

The Board has approved the budget for 2026-27, and agreed to clear the financial statements of the year 2024-25 for audit, and also discussed the enhancement of loan recovery and the delivery of programs.

However, the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center is taking the steps to develop leadership skills among the existing entrepreneurs beyond India. 14 entrepreneurs from nine SMEs and five startups have been chosen for its second Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship. Mentorship, coaching, hands-on training, and networking will be provided for over six months to help participants overcome business challenges and get ready for growth.

Each program focuses on key stages of business life, from funding and networking through to leadership and growth of established businesses.

Industry Insights: Data Reveals Women's Economic Contributions

Women’s workforce participation in India is expanding across employment and entrepreneurship, supported by government initiatives and emerging business opportunities. The Indian Female Labour Force Participation Rate reached 40% in 2025, while women owned approximately 38% of registered MSMEs.

In parallel, India's direct selling sector saw a revenue of ₹23,522 crore in FY2024-25, with women holding 47% of the 91 lakh direct sellers. Direct selling is a low-cost, low-capital and flexible working opportunity that is easily accessible to women, thereby enabling women to become entrepreneurs, independent and self-employed. Together, these developments highlight the growing role of women in India’s economic growth and inclusive development.

Final Note:
The measure of progress lies not only in new policies, funding announcements, or leadership milestones, but in the opportunities they create over time. As women enter new professions, lead institutions, build businesses, and strengthen local economies, sustained access to resources, effective implementation, and wider participation will be essential to turning individual achievements into lasting economic and social progress.