Sexual harassment complaints surge at India's top-50 listed firms

India's largest listed companies are reporting a notable rise in sexual harassment complaints, reflecting both increased awareness of workplace grievance systems and a shift in employee confidence to report violations.

The Nifty 50 index firms logged 1,327 complaints under Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) regulations during FY26, compared with approximately 1,269 cases in the previous fiscal year, according to data compiled from corporate disclosures.

The 4.6 per cent increase suggests that heightened workplace awareness campaigns and mandatory POSH training initiatives are encouraging employees to come forward. Industry experts attribute the growth not necessarily to higher incidence of harassment but to greater transparency and robust internal redressal mechanisms at India's premier companies.

"The rise reflects a positive shift where employees feel empowered to lodge complaints through established channels," observers noted. Many large corporations have strengthened internal committees and whistleblower protections following regulatory changes and corporate governance reforms in recent years.

The trend underscores ongoing efforts by India's largest employers to foster workplace safety while maintaining compliance with statutory obligations under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.