India’s Pune Ease of Living Index 2025 rankings have brought a major urban milestone for Pune, which has emerged as the top city in the Ease of Living Index 2025, as per the Economic Survey 2025–26 released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Pune has soared from its second-place finish in the previous year to claim the No. 1 position, overtaking larger metros such as Bengaluru and Mumbai in the national liveability chart.
What the Index Measures
The Ease of Living Index evaluates Indian cities based on a broad set of criteria that matter most to residents including access to quality education and healthcare services, availability of housing, water and sanitation, waste management efficiency, mobility and safety, recreational spaces, and other public services. This multi-dimensional ranking aims to capture how comfortable and convenient everyday life is in urban centres, rather than just economic output or population size.
Top Cities in 2025 Rankings
According to the official data, the top 10 cities this year are:
- Pune
- Navi Mumbai
- Greater Mumbai
- Tirupati
- Chandigarh
- Thane
- Raipur
- Indore
- Vijayawada
- Bhopal
What’s notable is the dominance of Tier-2 and emerging urban centres — cities that are less congested and often better at managing infrastructure and services compared to India’s traditionally overcrowded metros like Delhi or Bengaluru.
Why Pune Ranks First
Pune’s rise to the top reflects its strong performance across key liveability metrics such as access to healthcare and education, service delivery, urban planning and social infrastructure. Its pleasant climate, robust education ecosystem and relative ease of daily mobility have contributed significantly to its ranking.
At the same time, the city’s champions of urban governance acknowledge that challenges still remain — residents continue to voice concerns about traffic congestion, housing costs, and gaps in public transport infrastructure. These everyday realities have sparked lively public debate on whether the index fully captures on-ground experiences.
What It Means for Indian Cities
Pune’s top ranking reinforces a broader trend: smaller, well-managed cities are emerging as more liveable alternatives to crowded metropolitan hubs. As urbanisation accelerates in India, such indices help policymakers prioritise investments in infrastructure, public services and sustainability, while also guiding families and professionals considering relocation.
