Online Safety Concern for Many Indian Women Finds She Shakti Suraksha Survey 2025

By: WE staff | Tuesday, 11 March 2025

• The survey, conducted by Pvalue, explores women’s safety perceptions across various domains
• The findings are part of CNN-News18’s She Shakti Suraksha Survey 2025
• 46 percent of women feel online environment is safe, 38 percent of remain neutral, 17 percent of women feel unsafe

According to CNN-News18’s She Shakti Suraksha Survey 2025, online safety remains a concern for many Indian women. The survey, conducted by Pvalue, reveals that 46 percent of respondents consider the online environment safe, while 38 percent are neutral, and 17 percent feel unsafe. The study offers an in-depth look into women's safety perceptions across various areas.

The survey also revealed that confidence in online safety measures is somewhat higher, with 47 percent of respondents trusting the actions taken to ensure safety. However, 36 percent remained neutral, and 17 percent still felt unsafe, indicating that while efforts are noticeable, a significant number of people remain unsure of their effectiveness.

Regarding efforts aimed at women’s online safety, 46 percent of respondents expressed confidence in the existing measures. However, 40 percent remained neutral, indicating that a significant number of people are neither reassured nor concerned. Only 13 percent felt unsafe in this regard, marking the lowest negative response in the survey.

A concerning trend is observed in the perception of safety improvements over the last two years, with only 32 percent acknowledging positive change. Meanwhile, 30 percent expressed dissatisfaction, making this the most negatively viewed aspect of the survey. This indicates that, despite ongoing efforts, public confidence in recent improvements remains low, possibly due to slow progress or ineffective communication of these changes.

Equally troubling does the perception of online safety policies, with only 33 percent believe the current measures are sufficient. Meanwhile, 46 percent remained neutral, and 21 percent felt unsafe. The large neutral response indicates uncertainty about the effectiveness or enforcement of these policies.

The She Shakti Suraksha Survey seeks to measure women’s safety perceptions across different aspects and pinpoint areas needing improvement. Despite the presence of legal frameworks and technological advancements, safety concerns still impact women’s education, mobility, economic involvement, and fundamental rights, compelling them to alter their behavior and restricting their engagement in public life.

The survey initially included 8,000 respondents from 20 cities, with plans to expand to 100 cities. Data was gathered through random sampling of 400 respondents per city, using CATI and conducted in 10 Indian languages.

The survey analyzed demographics like age, education, marital status, and income to understand how safety perceptions differ based on social, economic, and personal factors.