Mumbai and Kohima Ranked Safest Cities for Women; Delhi and Patna Least Safe
A new report, the National Annual Report & Index on Women's Safety (NARI) 2025, has ranked Mumbai and Kohima as India's safest cities for women. The nationwide survey of over 12,000 women across 31 cities found that Patna, Jaipur, Delhi, and Kolkata were among the least safe. The report, which placed the national safety score at 65%, linked safer cities to better gender equity and infrastructure, while lower-ranked cities correlated with weaker institutional responsiveness and patriarchal norms.
Unpacked:
Mumbai and Kohima scored high due to better gender equity, robust urban infrastructure, higher institutional responsiveness, more women in police forces, and effective use of women's helplines and public safety measures like CCTV and safe public transport.
These cities have weaker institutional responsiveness, entrenched patriarchal norms, lower trust in authorities, and less effective infrastructure, leading to more unreported harassment and women's heightened perception of risk, especially at night or in public spaces.
The survey collected responses from 12,770 women across 31 cities in all Indian states. It was conducted collaboratively by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), Pvalue Analytics, The NorthCap University, and Jindal Global Law School, under the National Commission for Women.
Women’s safety affects their freedom of movement, education, work, and overall participation in society. Low safety scores highlight the need for holistic policy changes in urban planning, policing, community engagement, and gender-sensitive infrastructure to foster inclusive development.