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Future Female Forward Delhi meet pushes India’s parity momentum
NEW DELHI- The New Delhi chapter of CNBC-TV18’s Future Female Forward Season 3 delivered an evening filled with clarity, conviction and collective ambition as leaders from government, business, diplomacy, arts and enterprise came together to push India’s gender-equal future forward.
Hosted at The Imperial, the state chapter built on the strong momentum seen in Mumbai and Bengaluru earlier this season. With more than 500 women leaders engaged so far, the initiative has grown into a national force for shifting mindsets and reshaping systems.
Opening the evening, CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan called for India to move past symbolic gestures and focus on structural change. She said gender parity has never been about capability but about courage, and urged organisations to rebuild systems that are fair, inclusive and measurable in action.
HSBC India CEO Hitendra Dave followed with a keynote that stressed the need for institutions to move from good intentions to genuine transformation. He highlighted the importance of workplaces where women see themselves represented at every level, adding that this is essential to India’s growth vision for 2047.
A fireside conversation with Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal and Bhutan, made a strong case for diversity as a strategic necessity. She noted that equal participation improves decisions, boosts resilience and lifts the quality of outcomes across sectors.
The Leaders’ Forum brought fresh insights from Mona Khandhar, Ajay Sharma, Rajesh Varrier, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Nyrika Holkar and Ria Arora, who explored India’s shifting socio-economic landscape. The panel highlighted the need for redesigned systems that make it easier for women to rise to leadership at scale.
Cognizant India’s Rajesh Varrier spoke of creating clear pathways to help women progress without interruption. He spotlighted programs like BeGritty, Propel and Cognizant’s return-to-work internship, which has helped hundreds of women restart their careers with confidence.
A lively town hall moderated by Shereen Bhan featured insights from Neha Mathur, Pooja Sharma Goyal, Harita Gupta, Ruchi Kalra and Suman Hegde, focusing on building work cultures where women can thrive at every stage of their careers.
The evening also honoured the Future Female Forward Icons of 2025, celebrating women reshaping India through service, innovation, sustainability and community leadership. Among the honourees were squadron leader Priya Sharma, Sonali Ghosh, Mittal Patel, Rimjhim Agrawal and several inspiring grassroots champions.
Priya Sharma reflected on her journey in the Indian Air Force, recalling the thrill of watching fighter jets as a child and later taking the final sortie of the MiG-21 with the air chief. She described the experience as humbling, grounding and liberating.
A creative high point of the evening came from Academy Award-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor, who spoke candidly about perseverance and owning one’s truth. She encouraged women to embrace the “yes” that can transform a life and to meet challenges with courage and clarity.
The night wrapped with a soulful performance by singer Deveshi Sehgal, closing an evening that reaffirmed a simple truth: India’s progress will be stronger, faster and more sustainable when more women are empowered to lead it.
As the season moves into its final phase, Future Female Forward continues to bring together voices and commitments from across the country, turning shared stories and actions into long-term momentum for equality.
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Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
