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How India can bridge the gender gap in the age of automation | Beyond Averages

In July, Tata Consultancy Services — one of India’s largest IT firms — shocked the market by laying off over 12,000 employees in response to skill mismatches in an evolving AI landscape. While the gender breakdown of those job cuts remains unknown, a recent United Nations report warns that women globally face disproportionately higher risk from AI and automation: 28 % of women’s jobs are considered vulnerable, compared with 21 % of men’s. In India, where women are already underrepresented in tech and higher-skilled roles, the AI transition could exacerbate existing inequalities. The question is: can India act to narrow the gap, or will women bear more of the fallout — much like in the pandemic years?

first published: Sep 30, 2025 11:06 am