Bengaluru Tops 2025 List of Best Indian Cities for Women, Study Highlights Social and Industrial Inclusion

Bengaluru | January 8, 2026 Bengaluru has been ranked the best city for women in India in 2025, according to a recent study conducted by Chennai-based workplace inclusion firm Avtar. The study assessed 125 cities across the country, evaluating how well they support women through a combination of social infrastructure and industrial inclusion. Bengaluru emerged at the top with a City Inclusion Score (CIS) of 53.29, ahead of Chennai (49.86), Pune (46.27), Hyderabad (46.04), and Mumbai (44.49). The rankings highlight the continued dominance of southern and western metros in creating women-friendly urban environments. The index measures two key components: a Social Inclusion Score (SIS) and an Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS). The SIS evaluates factors such as safety, health, education, mobility, and overall liveability, while the IIS tracks opportunities in formal employment, corporate inclusion practices, workforce skilling, and participation of women in the job market. Cities that perform strongly in both pillars are considered to provide the most sustainable conditions for women’s long-term career growth. Bengaluru led the rankings largely due to its industrial inclusion. The city’s mature corporate ecosystem, significant formal employment opportunities, and widespread adoption of diversity and inclusion practices gave it a distinct advantage. In comparison, Chennai emerged as the leader in social inclusion, benefiting from robust safety frameworks, efficient public services, and accessible education and healthcare. Pune and Hyderabad demonstrated relatively balanced performance across both social and industrial indicators, suggesting strong prospects for continued female workforce participation. Regionally, South India recorded the highest average scores across all indices, reflecting stronger social support systems and more inclusive workplaces. Western India followed closely, while central and eastern regions lagged, particularly on industrial inclusion, indicating limited formal employment opportunities for women despite some improvements in social infrastructure. The report also highlighted that cities excelling in both social infrastructure and industrial inclusion provide the most resilient environments for women’s careers. Such cities not only offer safety and accessibility but also ensure meaningful job opportunities and professional growth. Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai were among the top five, followed by Gurugram, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, and Coimbatore, rounding out the top ten cities for women in 2025. Officials and urban planners said the findings reflect the importance of both policy and practice in creating inclusive cities. Investments in public safety, transport, healthcare, education, and housing, alongside corporate initiatives promoting diversity and female workforce participation, are essential to improving women’s access to opportunities and enhancing overall quality of life. The study emphasizes that city-level interventions matter as much as national policy in advancing gender equity. Cities like Bengaluru, which combine strong social frameworks with robust corporate ecosystems, provide women not only with safety and services but also with the resources to pursue long-term careers. This dual focus makes such cities particularly effective at retaining talent and fostering professional growth among women. With this recognition, Bengaluru is being seen as a model for other Indian cities to follow. The study underscores that continuous investment in inclusive urban planning, corporate responsibility, and social development can significantly enhance women’s participation in the workforce and society. By creating safer, more accessible, and opportunity-rich environments, cities can empower women while promoting overall economic and social progress. The 2025 rankings reaffirm the critical role of urban planning and corporate policies in shaping inclusive cities and highlight how southern and western metros are leading the way in ensuring women can live, work, and thrive safely and successfully. Bengaluru Tops 2025 List of Best Indian Cities for Women, Study Highlights Social and Industrial Inclusion Bengaluru has been ranked the best city for women in India in 2025, according to a study by workplace inclusion firm Avtar. The study assessed 125 cities on how well they support women through social infrastructure and industrial inclusion. Bengaluru led the list with a City Inclusion Score (CIS) of 53.29, followed by Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, showing the strong performance of southern and western metros. The rankings are based on two key factors: Social Inclusion Score (SIS) and Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS). SIS looks at safety, health, education, mobility, and overall liveability, while IIS tracks formal employment opportunities, corporate inclusion, skilling, and women’s workforce participation. Bengaluru topped primarily due to its mature corporate ecosystem, formal job opportunities, and adoption of inclusive workplace practices. Chennai led in social inclusion, with strong safety frameworks, public services, and access to education and healthcare. Pune and Hyderabad showed balanced performance across both areas. The report also found that South India has the highest average scores, followed by western India, while central and eastern regions lag behind on industrial inclusion. The top 10 cities for women include Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Gurugram, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, and Coimbatore. The study highlights that cities combining safe social systems and inclusive industries provide the most sustainable environments for women’s careers.