Bengaluru has secured its position as the most gender-inclusive city in India, topping the latest ‘Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI)’ index released by Avtar Group, a pioneer in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) solutions. The report underscores Bengaluru’s excellence in areas like skilling, employment opportunities, infrastructure, and caregiving support. That makes it a beacon of hope for women professionals across the nation.
This detailed analysis sheds light on the best-performing cities. Furthermore, it highlights the regional disparities in gender inclusivity. While southern cities dominate the list, northern regions like Delhi and Gurugram show significant room for improvement in fostering social inclusion. The report sets the stage for understanding the transformative role cities can play in shaping equitable opportunities for women.
Top cities for women in India: Bengaluru and Southern cities lead the index
Bengaluru’s leadership is complemented by other southern cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Coimbatore, cementing the South’s position as the most gender-inclusive region in the country. The City Inclusion Score (CIS) for the South averaged 18.56, significantly outperforming the West (16.92), North (14.00), Central (11.79), and East (10.55).
Kerala emerged as the most gender-inclusive state with a CIS of 20.89, followed by Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. This regional dominance is due to investments in infrastructure, public transport, and skilling initiatives that directly benefit women.
Top 10 cities for women in India
The top 10 cities in the 2024 rankings, based on their performance across metrics like Social Inclusion Score (SIS), Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS), and Citizen Experience Score (CES), are as follows:
- Bengaluru – Excels in skilling, employment opportunities, and infrastructure development.
- Chennai – High scores in caregiving support and quality of life.
- Mumbai – Leads in skilling and employment opportunities for women.
- Hyderabad – Notable for robust public transport and travel amenities.
- Pune – Strong in industrial inclusion and city livability.
- Kolkata – Scores well in governance efficiency and community engagement.
- Ahmedabad – Focuses on safety and infrastructure improvements.
- Delhi – High industrial inclusion but challenges in social inclusion.
- Gurugram – Strong skilling and employment metrics but faces safety issues.
- Coimbatore – Performs exceptionally in infrastructure and quality of life.
The metrics behind the rankings
The TCWI index is built on a strong, data-driven framework evaluating cities on three critical metrics:
- Social Inclusion Score (SIS): Measures city livability, safety, and empowerment initiatives.
- Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS): Focuses on employment representation, organisational inclusivity, and skilling opportunities.
- Citizen Experience Score (CES): Captures transport infrastructure, caregiving support, and overall quality of life.
Bengaluru’s high scores across all three metrics reflect its holistic approach to creating an inclusive environment for women.
Challenges for Northern cities
Despite strong performances in industrial inclusion, cities in northern India, like Delhi and Gurugram, struggle with social inclusivity. Gurugram, for instance, scores an impressive 7.68 out of 10 in skilling and employment but lags in safety and environmental challenges. This imbalance affects the city’s overall quality of life, underscoring the need for more comprehensive measures to bridge the gap.
What the TCWI index reveals about women’s progress
The TCWI index offers invaluable insights into what makes a city genuinely inclusive for women:
- Infrastructure matters: Cities with robust transport systems and caregiving facilities empower women by making their lives more manageable.
- Skilling is key: Investment in skill development opens up opportunities for women to thrive in diverse industries.
- Safety is non-negotiable: Ensuring physical and psychological safety remains a critical factor in fostering inclusivity.
Dr. Saundarya Rajesh, Founder-President of Avtar Group, aptly stated, “Cities are the foundations of opportunity. They shape how women live, work, and thrive.”
Conclusion: Key lessons from the top 10 cities for women in India
The TCWI index highlights the transformative role cities can play in promoting gender inclusivity. While cities like Bengaluru set a benchmark, significant disparities across regions reveal the challenges ahead. Inclusive cities are built on safety and infrastructure, as well as on promoting economic empowerment and equitable opportunities for all.
Changeincontent perspective
While the TCWI index celebrates cities like Bengaluru for their inclusive environments, it also calls for deeper introspection. Regional and linguistic biases often become barriers even in top-ranking cities. For instance, Bengaluru’s thriving DEI culture is occasionally marred by linguistic groupism, creating an “us vs. them” dynamic.
At Changeincontent, we believe true inclusion transcends metrics—it is about building workplaces where diversity is celebrated, not segmented. Bridging these gaps requires a unified effort from policymakers, organisations, and individuals.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content. We broadly define inclusivity as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
