Bengaluru has been ranked the best city for women in India in 2025 in a city inclusion index that assessed 125 urban centres. The ranking reflects how well cities support women through safety, education, healthcare, mobility, formal jobs and workplace inclusion. Bengaluru led the overall list with a City Inclusion Score of 53.29, followed by Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
Index Framework
The study used two main pillars to assess cities. The Social Inclusion Score measured safety, health, education, mobility and liveability. The Industrial Inclusion Score assessed formal employment, corporate inclusion practices, skilling and women’s workforce participation. Cities performing well on both indicators were seen as offering stronger long-term conditions for women’s career growth.
Top Performers
- Bengaluru ranked first overall due to its strong industrial inclusion.
- Chennai ranked second and led on social inclusion.
- Pune and Hyderabad showed balanced performance across both pillars.
- Mumbai completed the top five.
Regional Trends
South India recorded the highest average scores across the index, followed by western India. Central and eastern regions lagged behind, especially on industrial inclusion. This suggests that women may have better access to formal employment and inclusive workplaces in southern and western metros than in many other parts of the country.
Why Bengaluru Led
Bengaluru’s advantage came from its mature corporate ecosystem, large base of formal jobs and wider adoption of diversity and inclusion practices. Chennai performed strongly because of better safety frameworks, public services and access to education and healthcare. The index indicates that cities combining social support with inclusive industry are better placed to support women’s mobility and career advancement.
Last Modified: April 25, 2026