Women director requirement increases board gender diversity but corporate compliance and tokenism still remain concerns.
Section 149(1) of the Companies Act, 2013 requires at least one woman director on listed and certain public company boards, with specified compliance timelines for companies under the 2013 and 1956 Acts. Research referenced links female board presence to enhanced shareholder value, yet practical issues persist: appointments often favour family or well known names, female representation remains low, many firms risked non compliance with the deadline (leading to a regulatory extension), and industry mentoring initiatives are promoted as means to build a pipeline of board ready women. (AI Summary)