When age stops being a number: Has it become corporate India’s quietest gatekeeper?

Indian workplaces project inclusivity, yet a new Michael Page India study reveals ageism as their most urgent DEI concern. While only a small share reported discrimination, 40% of them cited age as the cause, affecting workers across all age groups. From stalled careers to stagnant salaries, the data exposes age bias as a structural threat undermining India’s talent ecosystem.