In a significant boost to urban safety rankings, Bhubaneswar and Mumbai have been named among the safest cities for women in India, according to the National Annual Report & Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025.
The comprehensive survey covered 12,770 women across 31 cities, assigning each a score against a national safety benchmark of 65%. Cities were then classified into four categories—“much above,” “above,” “below,” and “much below” the benchmark.
Alongside Bhubaneswar and Mumbai, Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Aizawl, Gangtok, and Itanagar also ranked high for promoting gender equality, encouraging civic engagement, providing women-friendly infrastructure, and ensuring effective law enforcement.
On the other hand, Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi fell into the underperforming bracket, with the report attributing their poor scores to weak institutional support and entrenched patriarchal attitudes.
While 60% of women reported a general sense of safety in their cities, concerns remain regarding public transport and public spaces after dark. Educational institutions were rated safe by 86% of respondents during the day, but confidence dropped sharply at night.
Workplaces received relatively better feedback, with 91% of women feeling secure at work. However, nearly half of respondents said they were unaware of their organization’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) policy, underscoring the need for greater awareness and training.
Experts say the NARI 2025 Index will act as a crucial tool for governments, city planners, and community leaders to design safer, more inclusive urban environments that prioritize women’s security and empowerment.
