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India's most liveable cities: what the official ranking actually says
Why now. On 30 Oct 2026 journalist Shiv Aroor asked on X which is India's all-round best and worst city or town (1,300+ replies). Personal lists vary. This page answers with the Government of India's Ease of Living Index instead of opinions.
In short. Everyone has a personal answer for best and worst city. The Government of India also measures it, through the Ease of Living Index (EoLI) run by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Here's what it found, how it scores cities, and how to judge your own city.
How the government measures it
The Ease of Living Index 2020 assessed 111 cities on quality of life, economic ability, and sustainability and resilience (PIB, 4 Mar 2021; MoHUA / NIUA report).
- 30% of the score came from a Citizen Perception Survey, run 16 Jan to 20 Mar 2020, in which 32.2 lakh residents rated their own city's services (PIB, 4 Mar 2021).
- Cities were split into two groups so big metros aren't compared directly with small towns: Million+ (over 10 lakh people) and Less than Million (PIB, 4 Mar 2021).
- These are the latest final EoLI rankings MoHUA has published (announced 4 Mar 2021), so they reflect 2020 conditions (PIB, 4 Mar 2021; The Hindu, 4 Mar 2021).
City rankings are also listed on the Smart Cities Mission portal: eol.smartcities.gov.in.
Top 10, Million+ cities (score out of 100)
| Rank | City | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bengaluru | 66.70 |
| 2 | Pune | 66.27 |
| 3 | Ahmedabad | 64.87 |
| 4 | Chennai | 62.61 |
| 5 | Surat | 61.73 |
| 6 | Navi Mumbai | 61.60 |
| 7 | Coimbatore | 59.72 |
| 8 | Vadodara | 59.24 |
| 9 | Indore | 58.58 |
| 10 | Greater Mumbai | 58.23 |
Source: PIB, 4 Mar 2021; The Hindu, 4 Mar 2021.
Top 10, Less than Million cities
| Rank | City | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shimla | 60.90 |
| 2 | Bhubaneswar | 59.85 |
| 3 | Silvassa | 58.43 |
| 4 | Kakinada | 56.84 |
| 5 | Salem | 56.40 |
| 6 | Vellore | 56.38 |
| 7 | Gandhinagar | 56.25 |
| 8 | Gurugram | 56.00 |
| 9 | Davanagere | 55.25 |
| 10 | Tiruchirappalli | 55.24 |
Source: PIB, 4 Mar 2021; The Hindu, 4 Mar 2021.
What residents themselves said
- In the Citizen Perception Survey, Bhubaneswar got the highest score, followed by Silvassa, Davanagere, Kakinada, Bilaspur and Bhagalpur (PIB, 4 Mar 2021).
- The average score across all 111 cities was 53.51 out of 100, so even the top city is far from perfect (PIB, 4 Mar 2021).
- In the companion Municipal Performance Index 2020, Indore and NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) were the best-run municipalities (PIB, 4 Mar 2021).
Judge your own city
Official rankings measure many services at once. Your own "best" city still depends on what you need day to day. Ask yourself:
- Can I reach work in reasonable time?
- Is the air OK most of the year? (Check the CPCB Sameer app.)
- Is there reliable water and power?
- Can I walk safely on a footpath at night?
- Are a good hospital and school nearby?
- Can I afford rent on local pay?
Different people weigh these differently, which is why personal "best" lists vary so much.
Related on Soshyal
Join the conversation
Share which city you find most liveable and why — neighbour chat, not a poll with claimed traction. Rooms are 18+.
- Look up your city on the Ease of Living portal (eol.smartcities.gov.in) if it was among the 111 assessed.
- Use the checklist above for your own neighbourhood — don't treat one ranking as the only answer.
- Share your pick of a liveable city and why, in Ask Hyderabad or your local room — opinions welcome; keep it civil.
- Share this page with friends arguing about best and worst cities
Pick your room
For a general city discussion room, join Ask Hyderabad. Rooms are 18+.
Sources
- PIB, MoHUA: Rankings for Ease of Living Index 2020 and Municipal Performance Index 2020 announced, 4 Mar 2021
- MoHUA / NIUA, Ease of Living Index 2020 report (2021)
- Ease of Living 2020 city rankings portal, Smart Cities Mission
- The Hindu, Bengaluru, Shimla most liveable cities in govt's Ease of Living Index, 4 Mar 2021
Last checked 1 Nov 2026. These are the latest final EoLI rankings MoHUA has published (announced 4 Mar 2021). Spotted an error? Tell us.