Ahmedabad, Indore, and Mumbai have emerged as the top three safest cities for women in India, according to the She Shakti Suraksha Survey 2025, conducted by CNN-News18 in partnership with Pvalue Analytics. The survey, released ahead of International Women’s Day, assessed safety perceptions of 8,000 women across 20 cities.
Call for urgent action: Night safety & public transport
The comprehensive She Shakti Suraksha Survey revealed:
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Urban Safety Perception:
– 82% of women across 20 Indian cities consider their cities generally safe, while only 6% feel unsafe.
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Day-Night Safety Gap:
– 82% of women feel secure during the day in contrast to 48% at night.
– 23% consider their cities unsafe after dark.
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Public Transport Concerns:
– Only 44% of women believe public transportation is safe.
– 70% feel comfortable travelling alone during the day, in contrast to 36% at night.
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Incidents of Harassment:
Despite safety concerns, the survey revealed that 93% of respondents did not experience any form of harassment in public spaces over the past year.Among the 7% who did:
– 60% reported verbal harassment.
– 25% experienced psychological harassment.
– 17% encountered physical harassment.
– 12% faced economic harassment.
– 3% were victims of sexual harassment.
The survey report highlighted the stark contrast between day and night safety perceptions, stating that this divide provides valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers. It further emphasised that implementing targeted measures to enhance night-time security could greatly improve women’s overall sense of safety.
Annual survey set to expand across 100 cities
The study, which gathered insights from 8,000 women across 20 cities in 10 Indian languages, is set to become an annual initiative with plans to expand to 100 cities. Designed as a strategic tool for policymakers, it aims to monitor progress and propose targeted interventions to enhance women’s safety. While Ahmedabad ranks as the safest city in India, the findings highlight the urgent need for improved night-time security and safer public transportation nationwide.
