India is witnessing a historic surge in women’s participation in the workforce. According to Ministry of Labour and Employment, India has witnessed a remarkable increase in the female workforce participation rate, PLFS data shows that the women’s employment rate (WPR) grew from 22% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24, while the unemployment rate (UR) dropped from 5.6% in 2017-1
8 to 3.2% in 2023-24, reflecting positive growth in employment opportunities for women. This shift is even more significant in rural India, where female employment has grown by 96%, while urban areas have seen an increase of 43% in employment during the same period.
“Women-led development is becoming increasingly prevalent, replacing women’s development.” — Shashank Teotia, Group Head, Human Resources at Paras Health
Shashank Teotia, Group Head, Human Resources at Paras Health, says, “The rise of Nari Shakti is closely linked with the current growth story of India. In recent years, the percentage of women in the workforce has almost doubled to over 40%. Postgraduate-educated women’s employment rate increased from 34.5% in 2017–18 to 40% in 2023–24. Women-led development is becoming increasingly prevalent, replacing women’s development. Programs such as Startup India, PM MUDRA Yojana, and PM SVANidhi have given women the resources and self-assurance they need to pursue careers as professionals, entrepreneurs, and government officials. They are increasingly playing a significant role in influencing the economy.
“A favorable climate is being created for women-led businesses and startups by the increased focus on gender budgets and state and federal support initiatives. This development is a social shift where women are now the main driver of India’s economic expansion, reflecting more than just policy changes.”
Still, research shows that 38% of women in India take a career pause for parenting or caregiving, compared to just 9% of men (LinkedIn Workforce Report). These breaks often make re-entry challenging in the fast-changing world of technology.
In September, 2025,REA Cyber City, one of REA Group’s innovation hubs, located in Gurugram, tied up with global technology consultancy, Thoughtworks, to support the upcoming cohort of the ‘Vapasi Program’. Thoughtworks’ flagship return-to-work initiative is designed to help women technologists successfully re-enter the workforce following a career break.
Vikas Wadhawan, COO, REA Cyber City said, “At REA, diversity is not just a metric—it’s a mindset. Partnering with Thoughtworks on Vapasi allows us to support women technologists in regaining their professional momentum.
“By building these pathways, we’re investing not just in our own teams, but in the strength of the overall technology ecosystem,” — Vikas Wadhawan, COO, REA Cyber City
“This initiative goes beyond recruitment for REA Cyber City. It’s about equipping women with the tools and confidence to return to the wider tech industry and succeed. By building these pathways, we’re investing not just in our own teams, but in the strength of the overall technology ecosystem,” Wadhawan added.
Vapasi addresses this gap through a five-week program that provides participants with structured training, hands-on experience working on real projects, mentoring, and a paid internship that often leads to full-time opportunities.
“A career break should not be a career endpoint for the incredible talent in our industry.” — Sameer Soman, Regional Head of Digital Engineering Center and MD for Thoughtworks
Sameer Soman, Regional Head of Digital Engineering Center and MD for Thoughtworks in India added: “A career break should not be a career endpoint for the incredible talent in our industry. Vapasi was born from this conviction and has since enabled over 250 women to successfully reboot their technology careers. We are delighted to partner with REA CyberCity, an organization that shares our belief in creating tangible pathways for inclusion. This collaboration creates a stronger, more resilient tech ecosystem enriched by diverse experiences and perspectives and we’re excited about the extraordinary impact this will have on the careers of talented individuals and the industry as a whole.”
Since the start of the program in 2014, Vapasi has enabled more than 250 women to restart their careers in technology, with 90% continuing in long-term roles. Through this new partnership, REA Cyber City and Thoughtworks aim to give women both the opportunity to return to work and the confidence, skills, and industry-readiness to thrive in any technology environment.
This collaboration also aligns with REA Group’s global commitment to diversity and inclusion. REA Group’s Australia business runs Springboard to Tech, a career transition program for women and gender-diverse professionals, with a 90% retention rate since 2018.
In its first year at REA Cyber City, the partnership aims toenable 15–20 women to rejoin tech roles, with a long-term goal of helping 100+ women restart their careers over the coming years.
As India moves toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, sustaining this momentum will require continuous investment in skilling, flexible work models, and inclusive policies that allow women to thrive at every stage of their careers. The growing collaboration between government, corporates, and educational institutions signals that the conversation is shifting from participation to leadership. The next phase of India’s growth story will not just include women, it will be led by them.
