Bengaluru Tops 2025 Ranking as Best Indian City for Women

Bengaluru has been ranked the best city for women in India in 2025, emerging as the top performer in a nationwide study assessing urban inclusion. The ranking highlights the city’s strength in combining social infrastructure with industrial opportunities, creating a supportive ecosystem for women’s safety, employment, and long-term career growth.

Study Findings and City Inclusion Scores

The study was released by Avtar, a Chennai-based workplace inclusion firm, and evaluated 125 cities across the country. Bengaluru secured the highest City Inclusion Score of 53.29, followed by Chennai at 49.86 and Pune at 46.27. Hyderabad and Mumbai completed the top five, reflecting the dominance of southern and western metropolitan regions in fostering women-friendly urban environments.

Two-Pillar Framework for Inclusion

The index is built on two key pillars. The Social Inclusion Score measures factors such as safety, health, education, mobility, and overall liveability. The Industrial Inclusion Score tracks access to formal employment, skilling opportunities, corporate diversity practices, and women’s participation in the workforce. Cities performing strongly across both pillars were found to offer more sustainable conditions for women’s professional advancement.

Bengaluru’s Edge in Industrial Inclusion

While Chennai ranked highest on social inclusion due to stronger public services and safety frameworks, Bengaluru led decisively on industrial inclusion. Its well-developed corporate ecosystem, concentration of formal employment, and widespread adoption of diversity and inclusion practices gave it a competitive advantage. Pune and Hyderabad showed balanced performance across social and industrial indicators, pointing to steady prospects for female workforce participation.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• The City Inclusion Score assesses women’s inclusion across social and industrial parameters.
• Bengaluru ranked first among 125 Indian cities in 2025.
• Social Inclusion covers safety, health, education, and liveability.
• Industrial Inclusion focuses on formal jobs, skilling, and workforce participation.

Regional Trends and Top Cities

Regionally, South India recorded the highest average scores across all indicators, followed closely by western India. Central and eastern regions lagged on industrial inclusion despite some gains in social infrastructure. The top ten cities identified by the study include Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Gurugram, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, and Coimbatore, underscoring the importance of integrated social systems and inclusive industries for women’s career resilience.