New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- India's top companies have more than doubled the fees paid to independent directors over the past five years, a new study shows, as firms seek to boost governance and attract global talent.

A report by consulting firm Deloitte India found that the average compensation for independent directors at Nifty 50 companies nearly doubled from Rs.52 lakh in FY20 to Rs.1 crore in FY25. The findings, part of Deloitte's 'Nifty 50 Independent Director Remuneration Study - 2025 Edition,' exclude banks and insurance firms, which operate under separate compensation guidelines from the banking and insurance regulators.

The findings of the study were shared exclusively with Mint.

"The increase has been primarily driven by a strong...