Kohima and Mumbai have emerged as some of the safest cities for women in India, while Delhi, Kolkata, and Patna rank among the lowest, according to the National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025.

The index, prepared by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), was released in Delhi on Thursday by National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatakar.

Based on a survey of 12,770 women across 31 states, the NARI index calculated a national safety score of 65% and categorised cities as “much above, above, at, below, or much below” benchmarks.

Cities leading and lagging in women’s safety

The report said that Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai ranked highest on safety. These cities often showed better gender equality, civic participation, policing, and infrastructure.

On the other hand, Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, Faridabad, Patna, and Jaipur scored the lowest. The findings linked these results to weaker infrastructure, patriarchal norms, and poor institutional response.

Mixed picture on women’s safety

While six out of ten women surveyed felt safe in their city overall, 40% still considered themselves “not so safe” or “unsafe.”

Concerns were particularly high regarding nighttime safety in public spaces and transport. Safety in educational institutions was reported at 86% during the day, but trust levels dropped significantly for night hours or off-campus areas.

Only 25% of women said they trusted authorities to take effective action on safety complaints. Around 69% of women found existing safety measures “somewhat adequate,” but over 30% pointed to major gaps.

Harassment hotspots & reporting gaps

The report shows that neighbourhoods (38%) and public transport (29%) were the most common harassment hotspots.

However, only one in three victims reported incidents. The study noted: “Two out of three women do not report harassment, meaning NCRB misses the bulk of incidents.”

Last year, 7% of women reported harassment in public places, but experts believe the real numbers may be much higher due to underreporting.

Releasing the report, NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatakar stressed that women’s safety is not only a law-and-order matter but also impacts education, health, work, and opportunities.

“When women don’t feel safe, they limit themselves, and women limiting themselves is not only for their own development, but also for the development of the country,” she said.

She outlined four key areas of women’s safety: physical, psychological, financial, and digital, and added, “It is our responsibility to protect women not just from crimes on the streets but also from cybercrimes, economic discrimination, and mental harassment.”

Rahatkar praised initiatives such as women’s helplines and CCTV networks in smart cities, as well as increased women’s presence in police and public transport.

“In many Union Territories, 33 per cent of police personnel are now women, and this has made a decisive difference in building trust,” she noted.

She also urged citizens to contribute, saying, “We often blame the system, but we must also ask what we have done. Whether it is using helplines, supporting awareness drives, or simply keeping public toilets clean, society’s role is equally important.”

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