The Quick Read
- The Candere Hurun India Women Leaders 2026 list features 117 women, up from 97 in its first edition.
- Ninety-eight honourees, or nearly 84%, have been identified as self-made.
- The list has expanded from nine to 12 categories.
- The organisations represented by the women have a combined valuation of more than ₹39 lakh crore.
- The honourees range in age from 19-year-old para-archer Sheetal Devi to 86-year-old entrepreneur Rajni Bector.
The second edition of the Candere Hurun India Women Leaders list has recognised 117 women across business, entrepreneurship, sport, journalism, literature, fashion, philanthropy and social impact.
The number of women featured has increased by 21% from 97 in the previous edition. The list has also widened from nine categories to 12, reflecting a broader definition of leadership beyond corporate roles.
Of the 117 women, 98 are described as self-made. They outnumber inheritors by more than five to one and account for nearly 84% of the list.
Women represented across 12 categories
The 2026 list covers five wider pillars: value creation, wealth creation, start-ups, philanthropy and culture.
Olympic and Paralympic medallists form the largest individual category, with 20 women. Sixty per cent of the athletes featured in this category are para-athletes. Value creation accounts for 19 honourees, wealth creation for 18 and social impact for 10.
The featured women collectively represent organisations valued at more than ₹39 lakh crore.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra leads the Wealth Multipliers category, while Hindustan Unilever CEO and Managing Director Priya Nair tops the Professional CEOs category. Preetha Reddy and Suneeta Reddy jointly lead the Veterans category, and Vaishali Nigam Sinha heads the New Economy rankings.
The list also includes Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Falguni Nayar, Nisaba Godrej, P.V. Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Mary Kom, Mirabai Chanu, Faye D’Souza, Barkha Dutt, Palki Sharma Upadhyay and Sudha Murty.
Candere Hurun India Women Leaders 2026: Mumbai remains the largest hub
Mumbai has the highest representation with 26 women, followed by New Delhi with 21 and Bengaluru with 16.
Maharashtra accounts for 31 honourees. Delhi recorded the largest annual increase, adding eight women to the list. The research also found that 33 honourees had moved across states to build their careers.
The high proportion of self-made women adds to the wider discussion on the different routes through which women reach leadership in India. Change in Content recently examined why women CEOs in India remain concentrated in promoter-led companies.
Our earlier feature on women entrepreneurs driving India’s economic growth also highlighted how women are building businesses and influence across sectors.
The Change Ahead
The expansion of the Candere Hurun India Women Leaders list indicates that women’s influence is being recognised across a wider range of industries, professions and public roles.
Its strongest finding is that most of the women featured have built their own leadership journeys. The next edition is expected to expand further, with Hurun India indicating an ambition to include 200 women.
Editorial Note and Sources
This Bureau report is based on information published by Hurun India and statements shared during the release of the 2026 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders list. The list measures different forms of leadership across business, culture, sport, media, and social impact; its categories do not use a single uniform financial or performance criterion.
