Human Resources M anagement in India: Emerging Issues and Challenges Pradhan & Pradhan Page 1 Managing Diverse Workforce in 21 st Century: Challenges and Opportunities *Sajeet Pradhan, Lecturer Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha-753003 ** Dr. Rabindra Kumar Pradhan, Associate Professor Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, W.B - 721302 Abstract Diversity is a key issue in a multiethnic, multicultural, multireligious, and multifaceted society like India. Today workplaces are highly heterogeneous having employees from diverse backgrounds and having different orientations. Organisations will greatly benefit if they can attract, inspire and retain talented employees with divergent backgrounds and varied needs into a unified and dedicated workforce. Although diversity in workplace poses several challenges, it can be converted into an unenviable competitive advantage over its rivals. Indian organisations more than ever will have to address this issue of diverse workforce and requires formulating a strategy for creating an environment where people will respect each other’s differences. India is known for its unity in diversity and tolerance towards outsiders. This attitude of accommodating people of diverse backgrounds will definitely pay rich dividends to the Indian Incorporation. Introduction Diversity has emerged an important issue because of imbalanced representation of diversity groups in the workforce. Diversity is more than just a passing management fad. Over the past few years it has become reason for competitive advantage for many organizations whereas there are many others who are yet to be convinced of its potent. The skeptics fail to recognize the merits associated with a vibrant and diverse workforce. Not just diverse workforce improves morale there is also rational monetary gain associated with people of different backgrounds. India is not only a diverse society, but also one which has valued and celebrated diversity. Indian