Godrej DEI Lab and India Included Launch Returnship Program

The Godrej DEI Lab, the diversity, equity, and inclusion arm of the Godrej Industries Group, has officially launched the second edition of its flagship case study competition, ‘India Included on Campus’. Expanding its reach to eight premier management institutes across the country, the campus roadshow kicks off at the Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad campus. This year’s challenge places a sharp focus on corporate women’s returnship programs, inviting students to devise practical solutions to help women re-enter the workforce after career breaks taken due to marriage, motherhood, or family care responsibilities.

Addressing the “Missing Half” and Workplace Inclusivity:
According to a recent study titled ‘The Missing Half, 2026’, approximately 74% of educated women in India take a break at some point in their careers. However, structured pathways facilitating the smooth re-entry of experienced women remain limited, making returnship programs a critical component of institutional talent pipelines. The challenge aims to encourage young management minds to conceptualize supportive frameworks and diverse skill-building strategies that foster inclusive work environments for women at various career turning points.

Insights from Leadership and Season 1 Success:
Parmesh Shahani, Head of Godrej DEI Lab and author of Queeristan, stated that meaningful discussions about workforce participation cannot happen without addressing career transitions. He emphasized that life changes like motherhood or family care should not act as barriers to re-entering purposeful work. Through academic collaborations such as those with Ashoka University Godrej Industries is actively exploring innovative returnship structures, welcoming fresh perspectives from young talent to build more inclusive workplaces.

Following a successful inaugural season in 2025 which featured student participants from IIM Trichy, IIM Lucknow, IIM Mumbai, and SIBM Pune tackling attrition and gender inclusivity (with IIM Trichy emerging victorious for their study on Godrej Agrovet) Season 2 scales up to engage a broader student base.

Prizes and Career Opportunities:
The winning team of this nationwide competition will receive a cash prize of ₹1,00,000. Additionally, finalists will secure the exclusive opportunity to interact directly with Godrej’s senior leadership team.