The National Commission for Women (NCW) has released the National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025, which highlights critical findings on the safety and security of women across Indian cities.
Released by: The National Commission for Women (NCW).
Collaborators: The report was created with contributions from the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), Pvalue Analytics, The NorthCap University, and Jindal Global Law School.
Survey Sample: The survey covered 12,770 women across 31 cities across all Indian states, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys on the subject of women’s safety in urban India.
National Safety Score:
The national safety score for women in India stands at 65%, forming the benchmark for categorizing cities into four categories:
Much Above
Above
Below
Much Below
Safest Cities for Women:
Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai emerged as the safest cities for women in India.
These cities were marked by stronger gender equity, civic participation, effective policing, and women-friendly infrastructure.
Cities with Low Safety Scores:
Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi were ranked among the least safe cities for women.
These cities showed weaknesses in institutional responsiveness, patriarchal norms, and inadequate urban infrastructure for women’s safety.
Perception of Safety:
60% of the women surveyed reported feeling "safe" in their cities.
However, a significant 40% felt "not so safe" or "unsafe", indicating a major gap in perceived safety.
Harassment Statistics:
7% of women reported experiencing at least one incident of harassment in public spaces in 2024.
The highest risk group for harassment were women under 24, with 14% of them reporting harassment.
Verbal harassment was the most common form of harassment (58%), followed by physical, psychological, economic, and sexual harassment (which were less frequent).
Harassment Hotspots:
Neighborhoods (38%) and transport (29%) were the primary hotspots for harassment incidents.
Women’s Response to Harassment:
28% of women confronted the harasser.
25% of women chose to leave the scene.
21% sought safety in crowds.
20% reported the harassment to authorities.
Perception of Safety at Night:
The perception of safety significantly drops at night, especially in public transport and recreational spaces.
While 86% of women felt safe in educational institutions during daylight hours, safety perceptions fall sharply during nighttime or off-campus.
Confidence in Redressal Mechanism:
Only one in three women who faced harassment filed a formal complaint.
A mere one in four women felt confident that authorities would take effective action on their complaints.
53% of women were unaware whether their workplaces had a Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) policy in place.
Action on Complaints:
Even when incidents were reported, only 22% were formally registered.
Action was taken in only 16% of those cases, showing gaps in the enforcement of safety laws and policies.
Gap in Urban Safety: The findings indicate a strong divide in safety standards between different cities, with some areas offering a safe environment for women, while others lack basic safety measures.
Policy Implications: The report highlights critical areas for policy intervention, including gender equality, improvement in urban infrastructure, and effective law enforcement to address the widespread issue of harassment.
Need for Awareness and Action: The low level of confidence in redressal mechanisms and the low reporting rates show the need for better awareness, support systems, and trust-building between women and authorities.
The NARI 2025 report serves as an important tool in assessing and addressing urban women’s safety in India. It highlights significant regional disparities in safety and institutional response. The report also underscores the need for more effective mechanisms to ensure women’s safety, better infrastructure, and a stronger commitment from authorities to combat harassment and violence against women.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has recently announced that its team of inspectors has returned to Iran, marking a significant step in monitoring the country’s nuclear activities. The return of IAEA inspectors comes amid growing global attention on Iran's nuclear program and its compliance with international agreements.
The IAEA is the world’s leading intergovernmental organization for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field. Here’s an overview of the agency and its key functions:
IAEA Statute Approval: The IAEA Statute was approved on 23 October 1956, and the agency came into force on 29 July 1957.
Autonomous Organization: The IAEA operates as an autonomous organization within the United Nations (UN) system.
Reports to UN Bodies: It reports to both the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
Primary Goal: The IAEA's primary goal is to ensure that nuclear energy is used solely for peaceful purposes and is not diverted for weapons purposes.
General Conference:
The General Conference is composed of all member states of the IAEA. It meets annually to:
Approve the agency’s budget.
Set general policy directions.
Board of Governors:
The Board of Governors consists of 35 members, and it meets about five times a year to:
Approve safeguards agreements.
Carry out statutory functions.
Appoint the Director-General of the IAEA.
Secretariat:
The Secretariat is led by the Director General and handles the day-to-day operations of the IAEA.
Ensuring Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy:
The IAEA ensures that nuclear technology is used solely for peaceful purposes like energy production, medical applications, and scientific research.
Nuclear Safeguards:
The IAEA applies comprehensive nuclear safeguards, which include:
Monitoring nuclear facilities and materials.
On-site inspections to verify compliance with international agreements.
Information analysis to assess the potential risks of nuclear proliferation.
Other verification techniques to ensure that nuclear energy is not diverted for weapons purposes.
Promoting Nuclear Safety and Security:
The IAEA works to promote nuclear safety through international cooperation, setting safety standards, and providing technical assistance.
The agency also promotes nuclear security to prevent nuclear terrorism and illicit trafficking of nuclear materials.
Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building:
The IAEA provides technical assistance to its member states, particularly developing countries, to help them use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
The agency also offers training, research support, and advisory services to build national capacities in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
Return of Inspectors to Iran:
The IAEA’s return to Iran is a significant development, as it ensures that the agency’s inspectors can continue to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities and confirm whether the country is complying with international agreements, such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
This return comes after the agency has had challenges in accessing certain sites and materials in Iran in recent years.
The move is part of the broader international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and ensure that nuclear programs remain for peaceful purposes only.
Member Countries: The IAEA currently has 180 member states, demonstrating its global reach and influence in the nuclear field.
Headquarters: The IAEA's headquarters are located in Vienna, Austria.
The IAEA plays a critical role in maintaining global nuclear security by ensuring that nuclear materials are not diverted for military use and are used for peaceful purposes such as energy production, medical applications, and scientific research. The agency’s work also promotes international cooperation in nuclear technology, fostering peace and development while reducing nuclear risks.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs has recently launched an additional module on the UMEED Portal, which allows widows, divorced women, and orphans to apply for maintenance support from Waqf-alal-aulad properties. This addition enhances the portal's inclusivity and offers financial support to marginalized sections of society.
The UMEED Portal (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development) is a centralized digital platform for registering Waqf properties across India. It is part of a larger initiative aimed at improving the management, transparency, and efficiency of Waqf properties in the country.
The portal has been launched in line with the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and it is an important step towards ensuring that Waqf properties are better managed and utilized for the welfare of vulnerable sections of society.
Centralized Registration of Waqf Properties:
All Waqf properties across India are required to be registered on the UMEED portal within six months of its launch.
Each registration must include comprehensive details such as measurements (length and width) and geotagged locations.
Ineligibility of Women's Properties for Waqf Registration:
Waqf properties registered under women’s names will not be eligible to be classified as Waqf properties.
However, women, children, and economically weaker sections will continue to be key beneficiaries of Waqf assets.
Dispute Resolution for Unregistered Properties:
Properties not registered within the stipulated six-month period due to technical or other reasons may be granted an extension of one to two months.
If properties remain unregistered beyond the extended period, they will be considered disputed and referred to the Waqf Tribunal for resolution.
New Module for Maintenance Support:
The newly launched module on the portal allows widows, divorced women, and orphans to apply for maintenance support from Waqf-alal-aulad properties.
This initiative is aimed at ensuring the welfare of vulnerable groups by providing them with financial assistance.
Aadhaar-Based Authentication:
The module uses Aadhaar-based authentication for verifying the beneficiary details. This ensures a secure and streamlined application process.
Online Application and Approval Process:
The application process for maintenance support is conducted online, and the approval process is managed by respective State/UT Waqf Boards.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is used to transfer maintenance support directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 empowers the UMEED portal, and it is implemented through the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Rules, 2025. This set of rules is framed under Section 3(r)(iv) of the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs is the nodal ministry for overseeing the implementation of the portal and related initiatives.
Better Management of Waqf Properties:
The portal facilitates efficient management and tracking of Waqf properties, ensuring that the resources are used for their intended purposes, such as welfare and development projects for minorities.
Increased Transparency:
With geotagging and comprehensive property details, the portal ensures greater transparency in the management of Waqf assets, reducing misuse and corruption.
Empowering Vulnerable Groups:
By launching a dedicated module for maintenance support, the government is providing direct financial assistance to vulnerable groups like widows, divorced women, and orphans, who often face economic hardships.
Digitization and Accessibility:
The online application and DBT system ensure that the portal is accessible and efficient, reducing delays and improving service delivery to beneficiaries.
The UMEED Portal is a significant step in the modernization of Waqf property management, providing a more efficient, transparent, and inclusive approach to supporting vulnerable communities in India.
In an innovative approach to control the invasive population of Burmese pythons in Florida, authorities have begun using robot rabbits to aid in the monitoring and control efforts.
The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the largest snake species in the world, known for its size and ability to adapt to various environments. Here’s a closer look at the key details:
Size: It can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh more than 250 pounds. Females are typically larger than males.
Non-Venomous: Burmese pythons are non-venomous, meaning they do not use venom to subdue their prey. Instead, they rely on constriction to kill their prey.
Behavior: The snake is solitary, mainly nocturnal, and spends most of its time hidden in the underbrush. It typically only moves when hunting or when threatened.
Swimming Ability: Burmese pythons are excellent swimmers, able to stay submerged for up to 30 minutes.
Burmese pythons are native to a variety of habitats, including:
Tropical rainforests
Subtropical jungles
Grasslands, swamps, marshes
Wet rocky areas, caves
Woodlands, mangrove forests, river valleys, and jungle clearings
They are typically found in regions such as eastern and northeastern India, Myanmar, southern China, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Indonesian archipelago. The species is now also found in parts of Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
IUCN Status: Vulnerable, meaning the species is at risk due to factors like habitat loss and poaching, though its population in native habitats is still substantial.
In Florida, Burmese pythons are an invasive species. The species became established in the wild due to the pet trade. It is believed that some pythons were released or escaped from captivity, leading to a breeding population in the Everglades and other parts of the state. The presence of these large snakes has created significant environmental concerns due to their impact on local wildlife, as they prey on a wide range of animals.
Florida has been struggling with the growing population of Burmese pythons for years. Their invasive presence is threatening local ecosystems, particularly in areas like the Everglades National Park, where they disrupt the balance of native species. To address this issue, authorities have launched several strategies, including:
Robot Rabbits: The latest attempt involves the use of robot rabbits, which are equipped with sensors to help detect the pythons. These robots serve as part of a more extensive surveillance program, making it easier to spot and track the snakes.
Python Hunting Programs: Florida has also employed hunters and trappers, offering incentives to reduce the python population. These efforts have helped catch thousands of pythons since the program’s inception.
Environmental Monitoring: Scientists and wildlife experts are working on better understanding the ecology of Burmese pythons, which includes studying their behavior and improving tracking and trapping methods.
Public Awareness Campaigns: The state is also running educational campaigns to prevent further releases of pet pythons and to raise awareness about the risks posed by non-native species.
The presence of Burmese pythons in Florida has raised serious ecological concerns due to their ability to prey on native wildlife. These snakes have been observed eating:
Small mammals, birds, and reptiles
Endangered species such as the Key Largo woodrat and the Florida panther
Their ability to reproduce quickly, with females laying up to 100 eggs per year, has contributed to their rapid spread in the wild.
The situation with Burmese pythons in Florida remains a significant challenge for conservationists and wildlife managers. Innovative solutions like the use of robot rabbits show promise in tackling the problem, but controlling the python population will require a multifaceted approach that includes monitoring, trapping, and public education. The efforts to manage these invasive creatures are crucial to preserving the local ecosystems and biodiversity in Florida.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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