Bengaluru has retained its position as India’s top city for women in 2025, while Gurugram recorded the sharpest rise in rankings, reflecting how inclusive workplaces, safety indicators and social infrastructure are reshaping urban gender outcomes, according to the The Cities for Women in India (TCWI) Report 2025.

Bengaluru has once again been ranked the best city for women in India, holding on to the No. 1 spot in the annual TCWI index, which evaluates women’s wellbeing across social and industrial dimensions. The report assesses how Indian cities perform in creating safe, inclusive and enabling environments for women.

Released by a leading industry body, the TCWI report examined parameters such as women’s workforce participation, safety, access to education and healthcare, urban mobility, and inclusion in formal industries.

Bengaluru’s continued leadership was attributed to its balanced ecosystem that combines employment opportunities, social infrastructure and relatively stronger gender-inclusive policies.

While Bengaluru remained at the top, Gurugram emerged as a notable gainer, climbing to sixth place from ninth last year. The TCWI report attributed Gurugram’s rise largely to improvements in industrial inclusion, with more women entering formal employment, particularly in technology, services and manufacturing-linked roles.

Officials associated with the study noted that stronger corporate diversity policies, improved compliance with labour norms and better access to professional opportunities played a key role in the city’s upward movement.

“Cities that consciously invest in both social infrastructure and inclusive economic growth tend to perform better for women,” an official involved in the assessment said, adding that sustained policy focus rather than short-term interventions made the difference.

What Sets Bengaluru Apart for Women

Bengaluru’s continued leadership reflects years of incremental progress rather than sudden change. The city scored highly on indicators such as female labour force participation, access to higher education, presence of women-led startups and comparatively safer public spaces.

Its robust technology and startup ecosystem has created diverse employment opportunities, while flexible work cultures have enabled more women to remain in or re-enter the workforce.

Urban experts point out that Bengaluru’s advantage also lies in its civic awareness and relatively active civil society. Initiatives around safer public transport, women-only help desks, and digital reporting mechanisms for harassment have strengthened perceptions of safety, even though challenges persist.

“No city is perfect, but Bengaluru benefits from an ecosystem where industry, government and citizens engage regularly on gender issues,” said a senior urban policy researcher.

However, the report cautions against complacency. Concerns such as rising living costs, traffic-related safety issues and unequal access for women in informal sectors remain pressing. The rankings emphasise that leadership must be continuously earned through sustained improvements.

Gurugram’s Rise Driven by Workplace Inclusion

Gurugram’s climb into the top 10 marks a significant shift for a city long associated primarily with corporate offices rather than gender-friendly urban living. The report highlights that targeted efforts to improve women’s participation in organised industries played a central role in the city’s improved ranking.

Over the past year, several companies in Gurugram expanded diversity hiring, introduced stronger anti-harassment mechanisms and invested in safer transport options for women employees.

In parallel, state-led initiatives focused on skilling women for industrial and service-sector jobs helped bridge gaps between education and employment.

“Industrial inclusion has a multiplier effect,” an industry representative noted. “When women have access to stable jobs, it impacts household security, mobility and social participation.”

While Gurugram still faces concerns around urban sprawl and public safety, the data suggests that focused economic inclusion can drive measurable progress.

How the Rankings Were Assessed

The index evaluated multiple Indian cities using a mix of quantitative data and qualitative indicators. Social parameters included safety, health, education and access to public services, while industrial dimensions assessed workforce participation, leadership representation, wage parity and workplace policies.

Researchers involved in the study stressed that the rankings should be seen as a diagnostic tool rather than a definitive verdict.

“The aim is not to crown winners, but to highlight what works and where interventions are needed,” one official explained. Cities that performed better tended to show consistency across indicators rather than excelling in just one area.

Notably, the report also flagged persistent regional disparities, with several cities continuing to struggle on basic safety and employment metrics for women. This, the authors said, underscores the need for city-specific solutions rather than one-size-fits-all policies.

About the TCWI Study

The TCWI 2025 study evaluated 125 Indian cities, drawing comparisons with earlier editions dating back to 2022. Cities were ranked using an overall City Inclusion Score (CIS), calculated using a combination of Avtar Group’s proprietary research and government data.

The CIS is derived from two core parameters – the Social Inclusion Score (SIS), which measures safety, health, education and access to civic services, and the Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS), which assesses women’s participation and inclusion in formal employment and industry.

Why Urban Gender Equity Matters

Urban centres play a critical role in shaping women’s opportunities in India. As cities attract migration for education and employment, their ability to provide safe, inclusive and enabling environments directly affects women’s economic independence and social participation.

Experts argue that rankings such as this help keep gender equity on the policy agenda, especially at a time when rapid urbanisation risks deepening inequalities.

“Cities are where progress is tested daily-on streets, in offices and in homes,” said a gender rights advocate. “Improving women’s experiences in cities has ripple effects across society.”

At the same time, activists caution that aggregate rankings can mask inequalities within cities, particularly for women from marginalised communities or those working in informal sectors. True inclusivity, they argue, requires addressing these hidden gaps.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At The Logical Indian, we believe that Bengaluru’s consistency and Gurugram’s rise offer valuable lessons, not benchmarks for rivalry.

These rankings show that when governments, industries and communities prioritise dignity, safety and opportunity for women, meaningful change is possible.

Yet progress cannot be measured by numbers alone; it must be felt in everyday lives-on public transport, in workplaces and within neighbourhoods.