MAM
Women’s job postings in India rise 19 per cent YoY
Foundit report shows gains in senior roles, Tier-2 cities and higher salary bands in 2026.
MUMBAI: Women’s representation in India’s job market just turned up the volume because when postings grow 19 per cent in a year, the glass ceiling starts sounding more like a glass amplifier. Women’s share of job postings across India climbed 19 per cent year-on-year between February 2025 and February 2026, according to the Women in the Indian Workforce 2026 report released by Foundit. The analysis highlights a meaningful shift: opportunities for women are expanding beyond entry-level roles into senior positions, higher salary brackets, emerging technology functions and Tier-2 markets.
Foundit VP for marketing Anupama Bhimrajka said, “Opportunities are expanding beyond entry-level roles into senior positions, higher salary brackets, and growing talent hubs across Tier-2 cities. While a large share of openings still fall below Rs 10 LPA, the broader trend indicates that access to diverse and higher-value roles for women is steadily improving.”
Key shifts include:
- Seniority: Women’s hiring share rose in higher experience bands 7–10 years (11 per cent to 14 per cent), 11–15 years (2 per cent to 4 per cent), and 15+ years (1 per cent to 3 per cent).
- Geography: Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations now account for 44 per cent of women-represented postings (up from 41 per cent), with Tier-2 women-preferred postings growing 22 per cent YoY. Fast-growing hubs include Jaipur, Coimbatore, Indore and Kochi.
- City share: Delhi/NCR leads (21 per cent), followed by Bengaluru (16 per cent), Mumbai (14 per cent), Pune (11 per cent), Hyderabad (10 per cent) and Chennai (9 per cent).
- Functions: Representation increased in IT (32 per cent to 34 per cent), Data & Analytics (7 per cent to 10 per cent), Sales & Business Development (15 per cent to 16 per cent), and Marketing & Communications (14 per cent to 16 per cent). Customer Service/BPO dipped from 12 per cent to 10 per cent, and Human Resources from 21 per cent to 20 per cent.
- Salaries: Postings below Rs 10 LPA fell from 79 per cent to 74 per cent, while Rs 11–25 LPA rose from 11 per cent to 16 per cent and Rs 25 plus LPA from 8 per cent to 10 per cent. Startups show an even stronger tilt toward higher bands (Rs 11–25 LPA at 24 per cent, Rs 25 plus LPA at 15 per cent).
- Work models: Return-to-office mandates grew only 18 per cent in 2026 (down from 55 per cent in 2025), while hybrid roles rose 9 per cent and remote opportunities increased 6 per cent.
The report points to a narrowing demand-supply gap in emerging tech roles (women’s participation up from 26 per cent to 31 per cent), signalling a more inclusive ecosystem ahead.
In a job market that’s finally turning the dial toward balance, the numbers whisper a clear message: Indian workplaces aren’t just opening doors for women, they’re starting to widen the corridors.
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
