60 Percent of Women in Energy Urge for Gender-Responsive Policies, Says IESA Report
Sixty percent of women in India’s energy sector are calling for gender-responsive policies to accelerate the country’s 500 GW clean energy target by 2030, reveals a new IESA report launched at the Women in Energy Forum during the India Energy Storage Week 2025.
August 07, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey
The study conducted across 26 states, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata, has also highlighted the urgent need for strong policy and regulatory frameworks to foster the participation of women in India’s energy sector.
A study by McKinsey Global Institute highlights that if women are empowered to work alongside men, the nation’s economy would potentially grow by an additional 27 percent by 2025. However, women still comprise just 11 percent of India’s energy distribution workforce and less than 1 percent in leadership roles, a stark contrast to the global average of 32 percent.
With robust government schemes and initiatives such as the PM Surya Ghar, PM KUSUM, and National Green Hydrogen Mission, the industry is striving towards unlocking the full potential of women’s engagement in the sector. However, the IESA report further highlights that 26 percent believe that the women in the industry are dealing with unconscious bias, lack of visibility, structural barriers, and demands for inclusive hiring, leadership development, and institutional support to bolster the industry. Additionally, 14 percent of the respondents underlined that women should not only be beneficiaries but also owners, managers, and decision-makers in the clean energy transition.
The report launched at the Women in Energy Forum during the India Energy Storage Week 2025 also spotlighted the growing role of women in shaping India’s clean energy future and how certain barriers, such as skill gaps and lower participation of women, can be addressed by embedding gender-responsive policies, skill-building and mentoring pathways, and diversity-led innovation strategies.
Organised by IESA, the Women in Energy Forum brought together voices from across the energy value chain to spotlight the growing role of women in shaping India’s clean energy future. A highlight of the forum was the spotlight on inspiring success stories that exemplify this transformation. Vedanta Group and the CES CARE team shared how gender-inclusive initiatives have created real impact on the ground – in mining sites, energy operations, and circular economy practices.
Debmalya Sen, President of IESA, said, “Women are not just participating in the energy transition —they are leading it from the frontlines. Through events like women in energy forums and bringing forward lessons from navigating complex systems via a report, IESA aims to shape more inclusive leadership landscapes in the sector. I believe that there can be no meaningful progress without harnessing the full potential of women. Their ideas, leadership, and actions are lighting the path to a better energy future – for everyone.”
The culminating moment of the forum was the Women in Energy Felicitation Ceremony. Under the theme “Honoring Your Inspiring Contributions in Advancing Inclusion in Energy and Beyond”, IESA recognised and awarded exceptional women leaders who are driving systemic change across the energy sector.
please contact: contact@energetica-india.net.
Deepak Agarwal
Managing Director
CBG is an Attractive and Scalable Business Opportunity in India: GPSR ARYA MD Deepak Agarwal
Amit Banka
Founder & CEO
Balancing Biodiversity & RE is Key to Sustainable Future, Highlights WeNaturalists' Amit Banka
Julian Thomas
Portfolio Director
REI Expo 2025 to Showcase India’s Clean Energy Leadership on the Global Stage
Pandarinath Siddineni
Tata Elxsi
Tata Elxsi’s Siddineni Explains How IoT and AI are Transforming Battery Energy Storage Systems
Azmathullah Mohammed, Senior Sales Director, Dassault Systèmes India
Neerav Mehta, Joint General Manager
L&T and Dassault Systemes Redefine EPC Project Management with Virtual Twin Technology