A recent National Index report, NARI 2025, indicates that almost 40% of women in India express feelings of unsafety in urban environments. The study, based on responses from 12,770 women across 31 Indian states, also highlighted that approximately 7% of women aged 18 to 24 experienced harassment in 2024. The report identified Delhi and Kolkata as the least safe cities, while Mumbai, Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, and Itanagar were deemed the safest. Incidents of harassment, including staring, catcalling, and unwanted physical contact, were reported. Contributing factors to these feelings of insecurity include inadequate infrastructure, poor lighting, and inefficient public transportation. Furthermore, the report noted that only 22% of the surveyed women reported their experiences to the authorities, and a significant 53% were unsure about the existence of POSH policies in their workplaces.
