According to the Avtar Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) 2024 report, sixteen out of the top 25 cities offering women-friendly career opportunities, infrastructure, security, and empowerment are located in South India. Tamil Nadu stands out with eight cities making the list, followed by Kerala with three, Karnataka with two, and one city each from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry.
The TCWI 2024 report evaluated 120 cities across India utilizing an inclusivity index that assesses various factors, including crime rates, safety, infrastructure, career opportunities, and overall empowerment. The analysis employed three main parameters: City Inclusion Score (CIS), Social Inclusion Score (SIS), and Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS).
Bengaluru was ranked first in 2024, achieving a CIS of 47.15. It was closely followed by Chennai at 46.31, Mumbai at 41.11, Hyderabad at 38.89, and Pune at 36.88. Notably, Chennai, which previously held the top position for two consecutive years, has fallen to second place this year.
When looking at regional performance, South India excels across all three parameters compared to other parts of the country. It boasts the highest rankings with a SIS of 25.06, a CIS of 18.56, and an IIS of 10.11. In contrast, West India ranks second, achieving a SIS of 22.78, a CIS of 16.92, and an IIS of 9.99.
In terms of specific scores, Bengaluru leads in industrial inclusion (IIS) with a score of 81.33, followed by Mumbai at 62.96 and Chennai at 61.40. For social inclusion (SIS), Chennai takes top honors with 45.31, followed by Pune at 37.73 and Bengaluru at 36.72. Among the cities with the highest average CIS, four out of five are also from South India, with Kerala (20.89), Telangana (20.57), and Maharashtra (19.93) posting the highest scores.
The TCWI report highlights considerable disparities in inclusion across India. South India stands out as the most inclusive region, showing substantial scores in all three metrics with a notable SIS of 25.06 and an IIS of 10.11. This reflects a comprehensive commitment to both social and industrial inclusion.
Women assessed their inclusion experiences in major cities across various categories, including skill development and employment, support for caregiving, infrastructure, efficiency of government services, quality of life, and safety. Notably, in the Skilling and Employment category, Mumbai received a score of 7.60, closely followed by Bengaluru at 7.54. Meanwhile, Pune excelled in the Quality of Life category with a score of 7.50, while Chennai scored 7.05.
