Bengaluru tops 2025 rankings as India’s most inclusive city for women

Bengaluru leads Avtar’s 2025 women‑friendly city rankings, followed by Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai; South India tops regional inclusivity scores

Bengaluru has retained its position as India’s most inclusive city for women in the 2025 edition of Avtar Group’s Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) study. The nationwide survey, now in its fourth edition, assessed 125 cities on how effectively they support women’s participation, safety, and career growth.

The rankings are determined by the City Inclusion Score (CIS), which combines two parameters: the Social Inclusion Score (SIS) and the Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS). SIS measures liveability, safety, representation in employment, and empowerment, while IIS evaluates the presence of gender‑inclusive organizations, women‑friendly industries, and career enablers.

Bengaluru led with a CIS of 53.29, reflecting strong industrial inclusion and career opportunities. Chennai followed with 49.86, excelling in social indicators such as safety, public services, and access to health and education. Pune (46.27), Hyderabad (46.04), and Mumbai (44.49) completed the top five. Gurugram showed notable progress, rising to sixth place from ninth in 2024, supported by rapid industrial growth and corporate presence.

The study found that Delhi, Gurugram, and Noida perform well on industrial inclusion but lag in social indicators such as safety and affordability, highlighting that economic growth alone does not ensure inclusivity. Cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Shimla, and Tiruchirappalli scored high on social inclusion but lacked industrial depth, limiting large‑scale employment opportunities for women.

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Mumbai stood out with an IIS of 69.00 but recorded a weaker SIS of 38.44, pointing to challenges in affordability and infrastructure despite abundant job prospects. Tier‑2 cities gained visibility in the rankings, signaling decentralization of women‑friendly ecosystems.

Regionally, southern India emerged as the most inclusive, with the highest average scores across all indices, reflecting integrated approaches to safety, health, education, and industry. The western region followed closely, boasting the strongest industrial inclusion. Central and eastern regions trailed, particularly on industrial indicators.

The TCWI study emphasized that inclusive cities are built through shared responsibility across governments, organizations, institutions, and communities. Cities that achieve convergence between social and industrial inclusion consistently rank higher, reinforcing that women thrive when safe, accessible, and equitable urban environments align with strong economic opportunities.

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