Pune Tops Ease Of Living Index Economic Survey 2025-26 As Tier-2 Cities Lead India’s Best Places To Live; Triggers Online Debate
Pune Tops Ease Of Living Index Economic Survey 2025-26 As Tier-2 Cities Lead India’s Best Places To Live; Triggers Online Debate ( Representation Image)
The Economic Survey 2025-26 highlights smaller cities as more manageable, better serviced and less crowded than metros.
Pune has emerged as the top-ranked city in India’s Ease of Living Index 2025, according to findings referenced in the Economic Survey 2025-26.
The index evaluates cities based on everyday quality-of-life factors such as schools, hospitals, water supply, sanitation, waste management, transport, safety and public spaces.
The top 10 cities identified in the survey are:
Pune, Navi Mumbai, Greater Mumbai, Tirupati, Chandigarh, Thane, Raipur, Indore, Vijayawada and Bhopal.
Some compared Pune’s property rates to Mumbai, its air quality to Delhi, and its traffic woes to Bengaluru, arguing that daily civic challenges do not match the city’s top rank.
Others acknowledged Pune’s pleasant climate and educational ecosystem but pointed out weaknesses in traffic management and road discipline.
Experts note that many of these are Tier-2 or emerging urban centres, which often offer better infrastructure, smoother public services and less congestion compared to larger metros.
The survey suggests that smaller cities are easier for local authorities to manage, helping deliver faster services and improving daily life for residents
