Bengaluru has once again secured its position as the leading city for women in India, according to the latest annual study. The workplace consulting firm Avtar released its Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) 2025 report, which ranks 125 urban centres based on their performance across social and industrial inclusion parameters. The Silicon Valley of India retained its number one rank, a position it has consistently held.
The Top Performers and Ranking Methodology
The rankings are determined by a composite City Inclusion Score (CIS), which is derived from two key pillars: the Social Inclusion Score (SIS) and the Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS). The SIS evaluates a city's liveability, safety, women's representation in employment, and broader empowerment indicators. The IIS assesses workplace inclusivity, the presence of women-friendly industries, and career enablers offered by employers.
Bengaluru led the chart with a CIS of 53.2, showcasing sustained excellence in industrial inclusion and career enablement. Following closely was Chennai in second place with a CIS of 49.8, praised for its strong social inclusion, particularly in safety, public services, and access to health and education. The top five was completed by Pune (CIS 46.2), Hyderabad (CIS 46.0), and Mumbai (CIS 44.4).
A notable climber in the list was Gurugram, which jumped to the 6th position in 2025 from 9th in 2024, driven largely by significant gains in industrial inclusion.
Key Insights and Regional Disparities
The report highlighted several critical trends. It noted that cities achieving a balance between social and industrial inclusion consistently rank higher. For instance, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune were recognized for their fairly balanced profiles, enabling sustained workforce participation for women.
Conversely, the report pointed out specific challenges faced by different cities. Delhi, Gurugram, and Noida showed strength in industrial inclusion but lagged on social indicators like safety and affordability. Cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Shimla, and Tiruchirappalli demonstrated robust social inclusion but had limited industrial depth, restricting large-scale formal employment opportunities for women.
A regional analysis revealed that South India emerged as the most inclusive zone, recording the highest average scores across all indices. The Western region followed closely, boasting the highest regional average IIS, indicating mature industrial ecosystems. However, Central and Eastern regions trailed behind, especially in industrial inclusion scores.
The Path Forward for Urban Inclusion
The longitudinal study, tracking data since 2022, reinforces a crucial finding: industrial growth alone does not create inclusive cities. Effective urban environments for women are built when economic opportunities are supported by safe, accessible, and equitable social infrastructure. The report also observed an encouraging trend of increased representation of Tier-2 cities in higher ranks, suggesting a decentralization of women-friendly ecosystems across the country.
For Bengaluru, the top rank was attributed to an employment-first urban design backed by strong safety and skilling infrastructure. Initiatives like women help desks, tech-enabled policing, and NGO-led street-lighting audits were cited as key factors improving safety and reducing risks associated with commuting and late work hours.
