As global firms pull back, Indian companies double down on DEI roles and investments

Dr Rushi Anandan, Associate Professor - General Management, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, shared his views in an article titled ‘As global firms pull back, Indian companies double down on DEI roles and investments’ published in Storyboard18.

In the article, Dr Rushi highlights how DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) efforts in India are increasingly rooted in cultural context and long-term social impact. While global firms are pausing or downsizing DEI roles, Indian companies are intensifying their focus, driven by talent expectations and social accountability.

He notes that in India, DEI is often linked to caste and community-based inclusion and underlines the importance of purpose-driven, sustainable investments in DEI beyond performative checkboxes.