Candere by Kalyan Jewellers and Hurun India have unveiled the second edition of the 2026 Candere Hurun India Women Leaders List, recognising 117 exceptional women across 12 categories for their contributions to business, sports, media, culture and social impact.
The list has expanded significantly from 97 honourees across nine categories in 2025, marking a 21% year-on-year increase. Collectively, the women featured represent a combined valuation of ₹39 lakh crore, exceeding Finland’s GDP.
This year’s list brings together prominent personalities, including Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Falguni Nayar, Sudha Murty, Anita Dongre and Masaba Gupta, alongside sports icons such as P.V. Sindhu, Mary Kom, Manu Bhaker, Saina Nehwal and Mirabai Chanu.
The average age of the honourees is 48, spanning seven decades from 19-year-old para-archer Sheetal Devi, the youngest entrant, to 86-year-old entrepreneur Rajni Bector, the oldest. Notably, 98 of the 117 women are self-made, outnumbering inheritors by more than five to one.
Mumbai retained its position as India’s leading hub for influential women, accounting for 26 honourees, while the University of Delhi emerged as the top undergraduate institution with 22 alumni on the list.
Commenting on the launch, Sanjay Raghuraman, Managing Director, Candere, said, “Our aim is to celebrate women whose leadership and achievements continue to shape India in meaningful ways and create an enduring record of leadership for future generations.”
Anas Rahman Junaid, Founder and Chief Researcher, Hurun India, added, “This year’s list reflects the many forms leadership takes in modern India—from boardrooms and startups to newsrooms and sporting arenas. The fact that 98 honourees are self-made highlights how leadership in India is increasingly earned rather than inherited.”
The list covers five key pillars of Hurun India—culture, wealth creation, value creation, startups and social impact—highlighting women who are shaping the country’s future across sectors.
