Bengaluru has once again secured the number one spot as the most favourable city for women in India, according to a major new study. The city's leading position highlights its success in building a supportive environment that spans social well-being and professional opportunities.
Top Performers and Ranking Methodology
The latest Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) 2025 report by workplace consulting firm Avtar placed Chennai in second place, followed by Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai to round out the top five. A notable climber was Gurugram, which jumped to the sixth position from ninth last year, thanks to significant improvements in industrial inclusion.
The comprehensive study examined 125 cities across the nation, comparing data from previous editions dating back to 2022. Cities were evaluated using a longitudinal index that measures women's inclusion through three critical lenses: participation, safety, and career continuity.
How Cities Were Scored: Social and Industrial Inclusion
Each city received a final City Inclusion Score (CIS), calculated from two primary parameters. The first is the Social Inclusion Score (SIS), which assesses liveability, safety, women's representation in employment, and broader empowerment indicators. The second is the Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS), which evaluates how inclusive organizations across various industries are. This score reflects workplace participation, the presence of women-friendly sectors, and career support systems provided by employers.
Bengaluru achieved a leading CIS of 53.2, powered by its sustained excellence in industrial inclusion and career enablement. Chennai, with a score of 49.8, held onto second place by continuing to excel in social inclusion, particularly in safety, public services, mobility, and access to healthcare and education.
Key Drivers of Success and Urban Ecosystems
The report details that Bengaluru's top ranking stems from an employment-first urban design, backed by robust safety and skill-development infrastructure. Initiatives like women's help desks, tech-aided and community policing have effectively reduced emergency response times. This has lowered risks associated with commuting and late working hours. Furthermore, safety in public spaces has been enhanced through NGO-led audits of street lighting.
Pune secured the third position with a CIS of 46.2, while Hyderabad followed closely with a score of 46. Mumbai completed the top five list with a CIS of 44.4. All these cities demonstrated consistent performance across both social and industrial parameters, showcasing balanced development in creating supportive ecosystems for women.
The findings underscore a growing recognition among Indian cities that fostering women's advancement requires a dual focus: creating safe, liveable communities and building inclusive, opportunity-rich workplaces. Bengaluru's continued leadership sets a benchmark for others to follow.
