NE WOMEN BUREAU
CHENNAI, JAN 7
Chennai has reaffirmed its position as one of India’s most women-friendly cities, retaining a coveted Top-3 ranking in the ‘Top Cities for Women in India 2025’ survey released by the Avtar Group, India’s leading workplace culture consulting firm. The city stands out for its strong social inclusion ecosystem, particularly in safety, mobility, public services, and access to health and education.
Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Managing Director, Avtar Group, addressing virtual press conference
announcing the findings of Avtar’s 2025 Top Cities for Women in India report. pic.twitter.com/x6pbpdX13m— Avtar (@avtarinc) January 7, 2026
Released as the fourth edition of Avtar’s annual, nationwide study, the Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) report presents a longitudinal inclusivity index that evaluates how effectively Indian cities enable women’s participation, safety, workforce entry, career continuity and leadership growth. The report also serves as a framework for policymakers, organisations and urban stakeholders to build women-enabling cities.
- Chennai Emerges as a Social Inclusion Leader with Strong Safety, Mobility & Public Services
- Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai Form India’s Top 5 Women-Friendly Cities
- Southern States Dominate Top 10 as Inclusive Urban Ecosystems Deepen
- Tier-2 Cities Gain Ground, Signalling Decentralised Women-Centric Growth
- Gurugram Breaks the North-South Divide as Only North Indian City in Top 10
- Study Highlights Need to Balance Social Safety with Industrial Opportunity
Top 10 Cities for Women in India 2025
The Top 10 Cities for Women in India this year are: Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Gurugram, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore.
The 2025 edition covers 125 cities, drawing comparisons from previous studies conducted since 2022, underscoring trends, progress and persistent gaps in women’s urban inclusion.
How Cities Are Ranked: City Inclusion Score Explained
Cities are ranked based on an overall City Inclusion Score (CIS), derived from Avtar Group’s research and governmental data. The CIS is built on two core pillars:
- Social Inclusion Score (SIS):
Evaluated through four indicators — city liveability, safety, women’s representation in employment, and women’s empowerment. - Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS):
Measures how inclusive a city’s organisational ecosystem is, based on density of gender-inclusive organisations, women-friendly industries, and career enablers provided by employers.
‘Can a Woman Truly Thrive in This City?’: Avtar Group
Speaking at the release of the report, Dr Saundarya Rajesh, Managing Director of Avtar Group, said, “As we mark Avtar’s 25th year, the fourth edition of the ‘Top Cities for Women in India’ reflects both how far we have come and how much more we must do. Over the years, the TCWI study has evolved into a tool of accountability that asks a simple question: Can a woman truly thrive in this city? It measures the real ease of career and life for women, whether cities enable women to enter the workforce, stay, grow, and lead.”
She further emphasised the need for collective action, adding, “Creating such cities requires shared responsibility. Governments, organizations, institutions, communities, and women themselves must work together to build environments that are safe, accessible, affordable, and supportive. In today’s context, cities must also take a broader view of inclusion, one that considers environmental resilience, supportive infrastructure, digital readiness, intergenerational equity, and respect for diverse perspectives. When these elements come together, women thrive, thereby strengthening local economies and moving India closer to its long-term development goals.”
Key Findings: Chennai’s Strength, Bengaluru’s Lead
- Bengaluru retains its position as India’s top city for women in 2025 with a City Inclusion Score of 53.29, driven by strong industrial inclusion and career enablement.
- Chennai ranks second with a CIS of 49.86, continuing to lead on social inclusion parameters, including safety mechanisms, public services, mobility initiatives, and access to health and education.
- Pune (46.27), Hyderabad (46.04), and Mumbai (44.49) complete the top five, showing consistent performance across both social and industrial indicators.
- Gurugram records one of the sharpest climbs, moving to Rank 6 in 2025 from Rank 9 in 2024, backed by rapid industrial growth and a strong corporate presence.
Inclusion Gaps: Why Industry Alone Isn’t Enough
The study reveals that industrial growth without social infrastructure does not guarantee inclusion:
- Delhi, Gurugram and Noida score well on industrial inclusion but lag on safety, affordability and mobility.
- Thiruvananthapuram, Shimla and Tiruchirappalli excel in social inclusion but face limited industrial depth, constraining large-scale employment opportunities for women.
- Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune emerge as balanced performers, aligning social inclusion with strong industrial ecosystems.
- Mumbai shows very high industrial inclusion (IIS 69.00) but comparatively weaker social inclusion (SIS 38.44), highlighting affordability and infrastructure challenges.
Regional Insights: South Leads, Tier-2 Cities Rise
- The Southern region emerges as the most inclusive, with the highest regional averages across CIS, SIS and IIS, reflecting integrated approaches to safety, education, health and employment.
- The Western region follows closely, buoyed by mature industrial ecosystems and enabling social conditions.
- Central and Eastern regions trail on both social and industrial inclusion, particularly in industrial participation.
- Increased representation of Tier-2 cities in higher ranks signals a decentralisation of women-friendly urban ecosystems.
