New Delhi: The National Women’s Safety Annual Report and Index, NARI 2025, has highlighted critical concerns regarding women’s safety in urban India. According to the report, 40% of women residing in cities feel that their surroundings are unsafe, citing poor street lighting and limited presence of security personnel as key issues. The study gathered responses from 12,770 women across 31 cities nationwide. Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, Faridabad, Patna, and Jaipur were ranked among the safest cities, while Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai were listed as the least safe.
The report also underscores widespread harassment faced by women in public spaces, including staring, following, verbal abuse, and physical contact. Such incidents have caused students to drop out and employees to quit jobs. In 2024, seven percent of women reported facing harassment, with young women aged 18-24 being particularly vulnerable. NARI 2025 also revealed that only 22% of harassment cases are reported to authorities, and just 16% of reported cases resulted in appropriate action. Workplace safety remains a concern, with 53% of women unclear about the presence of sexual harassment prevention (POSH) policies at their offices.
Launched by National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijay Kishore Rahatkar and conducted by PawaLyu Analytics, the report was published by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA). NARI 2025 aims to provide actionable insights to policymakers, governments, institutions, corporates, and civil society to improve women’s safety. Chairperson Rahatkar emphasized that the report reflects the real voices of women and will help create a safer environment nationwide. PawaLyu Analytics MD Prahlad Raut noted that the report aligns with the Prime Minister’s Vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and is intended to guide governments in enhancing women’s safety.