New Delhi, Aug 11: As India advances towards its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, one of its greatest opportunities for economic growth remains underutilised, not because women lack education, skills or ambition, but because invisible gender norms continue to shape who enters, stays and succeeds in the workforce.

From 8–10 September 2026, Breakthrough will convene their annual summit Reframe 2026, with this year’s theme being ‘Reimagining India's Future – Equal Participation of Women in the Workforce’ at the India International Centre, New Delhi. Bringing together policymakers, government leaders, philanthropies, businesses, researchers, educators, media professionals, development practitioners and youth leaders, the three-day national summit will examine one of India's most pressing development challenges: how shifting gender norms will unlock women's full participation in the economy.

Designed as a cross-sector platform for collaboration, Reframe 2026 will bring together speakers, featuring seven panel discussions and seven interactive workshops that move beyond dialogue to build actionable pathways for gender-equitable workforce participation. 

Join us from 8-10 September 2026 for Reframe 2026

For decades, efforts to increase women's workforce participation have focused on education, skilling, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, workplace policies and safety. While these interventions have expanded opportunities, they have not translated into equitable participation. India has significantly narrowed the education gap, with women now accounting for nearly half of university graduates, yet women remain underrepresented in the workforce and leadership roles.

The challenge is no longer only about creating opportunities, rather about transforming the social expectations and structural barriers that determine whether women are able to access, sustain and advance through those opportunities.

Reframe 2026 will position gender norms as a critical economic issue rather than solely a social one, making the case that equal workforce participation is fundamental to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

"India has invested significantly in preparing women for work, through education, skills and opportunity. What needs to be worked on in parallel are the systems, gender norms and expectations that shape whether society is prepared for women to work. Women's economic participation is shaped long before a woman enters her first workplace. It is influenced by the expectations she grows up with at home, in schools, communities and institutions. Reframe 2026 is about bringing together the people who shape these systems to rethink how we create an India where women are not only able to enter the workforce but are supported to remain, grow and lead," said Nayana Chowdhury, CEO, Breakthrough.

The summit opens with the launch of Breakthrough's new survey, "What Makes Work, Work for Her," presenting insights into women's aspirations, workplace experiences, retention challenges and the invisible barriers that continue to influence workforce participation across diverse sectors.

Across three days, Reframe 2026 will explore the systems that shape women's economic participation through conversations on digital influence and changing public narratives, gender-transformative education, philanthropy as a catalyst for systems change, safe public spaces and mobility, maternal and child health as an economic imperative, masculinities and the care economy, workplace leadership, investing in equality, youth-centred development, and the future of inclusive work.

The programme will feature leading voices from government, civil society, donors, CSOs, academia, media and industry, and several other organisations working across policy, research and implementation.

The final day of the summit will move from dialogue to action through a series of collaborative workshops focused on building inclusive workplaces, scaling gender-transformative education, evaluating gender norm change, engaging young people, advancing innovative storytelling, and strengthening the role of men as allies in women's economic empowerment. 

The summit will conclude with the release of Breakthrough's call to reframe the national conversation on women's workforce participation, from an employment challenge to a systems challenge rooted in gender norms.

For more than 26 years, Breakthrough has worked to transform the gender norms that limit women and girls' opportunities across education, health, safety and economic participation. Working with communities, schools, media, governments and institutions, the organisation has reached more than 5.4 million young people across nine states and 29,000 schools, demonstrating that sustainable change begins long before women enter the workforce.

As India seeks to build a globally competitive, inclusive economy, Reframe 2026 will ask a critical question: What will it take not only to create opportunities for women, but to build a society where women can fully participate, thrive and lead?