Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra said the top 500 listed companies by turnover had only nine women chief executive officers (CEOs) and 25 women managing directors (MDs), based on filings available in the MCA21 database. The data showed that these companies collectively had 860 women directors and board members. This included 738 directors, 67 whole-time directors, 25 managing directors, 18 additional directors and 12 nominee directors. The government said it has not conducted any specific assessment of barriers that may be preventing women directors from progressing into senior leadership roles. The MCA also disclosed enforcement action taken against companies that failed to comply with the requirement of appointing women directors.