Bhubaneswar, Mumbai Among India’s Safest Cities for Women: NARI 2025 Report

In a major boost to urban safety rankings, Bhubaneswar and Mumbai have emerged as two of India’s safest cities for women, according to the National Annual Report & Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025.

The report, based on a survey of 12,770 women across 31 cities, evaluated urban centres against a national safety benchmark of 65%.

Cities were categorised into four tiers—“much above,” “above,” “below,” and “much below” the benchmark. Bhubaneswar and Mumbai, along with Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Aizawl, Gangtok, and Itanagar, scored high for promoting gender equality, civic engagement, women-friendly infrastructure, and effective law enforcement.

Conversely, cities like Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi ranked poorly due to weak institutional support and entrenched patriarchal norms.

While 60% of respondents reported feeling generally safe, concerns persist around public transport and nighttime public spaces.

Educational institutions were deemed safe by 86% of women during the day, but confidence dropped significantly after dark.

Workplaces fared better, with 91% of women feeling secure, although nearly half were unaware of their organisation’s POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy.

Experts say the NARI 2025 Index offers a strategic roadmap for policymakers, urban planners, and community leaders to build safer, more inclusive cities that prioritize women’s empowerment.