# Only 9 women CEOs, 22 CFOs among top 500 firms 2026-08-13T07:38:47+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Data tabled in the Lok Sabha shows that India's top 500 listed companies have just nine women CEOs and 22 women chief financial officers. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs, replying to a question from Trinamool MP Saayoni Ghosh, said the companies have 860 women directors or board members overall. That includes 25 managing directors and 67 whole-time directors. Women hold only 4.4% of CFO positions and 1.8% of CEO posts in the top 500 universe. Across all active companies, 1.16 million women are directors, about 29% of the total 3.99 million directors. However, the government has not assessed barriers to women's progression and has no new policy interventions planned. Penalties for non-compliance with the one-woman-director rule totalled Rs 71.02 lakh in 50 adjudication orders over five years. ## Coverage - rediff.com - cfo.economictimes.indiatimes.com Tags: corporate governance, gender diversity, Lok Sabha, MCA, women directors Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/only-9-women-ceos-25-women-mds-in-indias-top-500-firms/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/only-9-women-ceos-25-women-mds-in-indias-top-500-firms/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.