New Delhi, September 1, 2026: Godrej DEI Lab, the diversity, equity and inclusion arm of the Godrej Industries Group, has announced the second edition of India Included on Campus, a case study competition focused on workplace diversity, equity and inclusion.
This year’s competition will focus on women’s returnship programmes, inviting students from leading management institutes to develop practical approaches for helping women return to the workforce after career breaks related to marriage, motherhood or caregiving.
The second edition is being expanded to eight management institutes, including the Indian School of Business and IIT Bombay, with the challenge also being brought to IIT Delhi. The winning team will receive a cash prize of INR 1 lakh, while finalists will have an opportunity to interact with senior Godrej leadership.
The initiative comes amid concerns around women’s career continuity. According to the 2026 study The Missing Half, 74% of educated women in India have taken a career break at some point in their careers. The competition seeks to examine how organisations can create structured pathways for experienced women to re-enter employment and progress in their careers.
Bhavya Mishra, Chief Human Resources Officer, Godrej Capital, said: “The way we respond to a career break says a lot about how we define talent. If we view uninterrupted career progression as the only measure of capability, we risk overlooking professionals who bring valuable experience, resilience and perspective. Returnship programmes play an important role in helping experienced women re-enter the workforce through structured pathways for learning, growth and long-term career progression. For organisations, the opportunity goes beyond filling roles. It is about building stronger and more diverse leadership pipelines for the future. By bringing this challenge to students through India Included on Campus, we are encouraging the next generation of leaders to think about how workplaces can be designed to unlock the full potential of talent at every stage of life and career.”
Parmesh Shahani, Head, Godrej DEI Lab and author of Queeristan, added: “We cannot talk about women’s participation in the workforce without addressing what happens when careers take a different path. Whether due to motherhood, caregiving responsibilities, or other life transitions, a career break should not become a barrier to meaningful employment. At Godrej Industries, we are rethinking how returnship programmes can better support women re-entering the workforce, through initiatives such as our research collaboration with CEDA at Ashoka University and broader efforts to create pathways that enable women to return with confidence and purpose. India Included on Campus is another important step in that journey. It gives young minds an opportunity to engage with a real workforce challenge, contribute fresh perspectives, and help shape more inclusive workplaces for the future.”
The first edition of India Included on Campus, launched in 2025, involved students from IIM Trichy, IIM Lucknow, IIM Mumbai and SIBM Pune. IIM Trichy won the inaugural edition for its research-based case study on strengthening gender inclusivity at Godrej Agrovet.
The second edition builds on that format while broadening participation and focusing specifically on career continuity and return-to-work pathways for women.
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