New Delhi: India’s major cities have made modest but meaningful strides in LGBTQ+ inclusion, according to the Open for Business City Ratings 2025, which ranks 149 global cities on LGBTQ+ inclusion and economic competitiveness.

Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad received a “C” rating, classifying them as “partially open for business.” These cities outperformed many others in the Asia-Pacific region, despite slow national-level policy reforms.

The report credits this progress to proactive measures by state governments and leadership within the private sector. It also pointed to landmark judicial interventions, such as the Supreme Court’s directive to establish separate restrooms for transgender individuals in courts and the Madras High Court’s 2025 ruling that affirmed homosexuality is not a disorder.

Other progressive steps include Tamil Nadu’s 2022 order to reduce police harassment of LGBTQ+ individuals and the launch of the Education Equality Index in 2024.

Corporates have played a key role too, with firms like Tata Steel and Mahindra introducing inclusive hiring initiatives and LGBTQ+ employee support groups. A Deloitte survey referenced in the report found that Indian workplaces exceed global averages in terms of LGBTQ+ employees feeling safe to be open about their identities.

However, progress at the national level has not kept pace. The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision rejecting the legalisation of same-sex marriage was described as a setback, with the report stressing that wider legal protections remain lacking.

“Inclusive cities attract talent and spur innovation,” the report stated, noting that such cities score four times higher on human capital performance and 2.5 times better on entrepreneurship. With India projected to face a skilled labour shortage by 2030, inclusive urban development is deemed an economic imperative.

The report underscores that while national governments may lag, cities can drive meaningful inclusion independently. “While challenges persist, these advancements foster optimism for a more inclusive future,” said Srini Ramaswamy, co-founder of Pride Circle, Rainbow Bazaar, and Fameworks Entertainment, a contributor to the report.

Across Asia, Bangkok received a “B” rating, aided by Thailand’s 2025 legalisation of same-sex marriage and a thriving LGBTQ+ business scene. Singapore improved to an “A” rating following the repeal of Section 377A, though workplace discrimination remains a concern.

Meanwhile, cities such as Manila, Jakarta, and Colombo were rated as “not open for business” due to low inclusiveness and enduring legal and social barriers.

The City Ratings 2025 evaluates cities using 27 metrics across innovation, legal protections, human capital, and social attitudes, in partnership with Oxford Economics and other global data providers.