v256.0 · safety · IN · verified 2026-04
India safety + risk profile
Safety profile for India — overall risk level, official advisories from UK FCDO + US State Dept, crime, terrorism, political stability, natural disasters, road safety, healthcare risks, cyber risks. Verified against authoritative government sources.
Overall risk assessment
MODERATE — varies dramatically by region
Official government advisories
| US State Department | Level 2 with regional exceptions: J&K + Indo-Pakistani border Level 4, Manipur/Naxal-affected districts Level 4 |
| UK FCDO | Travel as normal for most areas · No travel within 10 km of India-Pakistan border (excluding Wagah) · Specific advisories for Manipur, parts of Chhattisgarh/Jharkhand/Odisha |
Crime + areas
| Crime overview | Generally lower violent crime against tourists than perception · Sexual harassment + assault concerns particularly for women travelers · Pickpocketing + scams in tourist areas (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa) · Counterfeit currency · Drink-spiking nightlife |
| Safest areas | Bengaluru tech corridors, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai South (Colaba/Fort), Chennai, Kerala (Kochi/Wayanad), Goa beaches (daytime), Himalayan tourist towns (Manali, Dharamshala, Rishikesh) |
| Higher-risk areas | J&K Line of Control (terrorism) · Manipur ethnic conflict (Meitei-Kuki since May 2023) · Naxal-affected districts (Chhattisgarh Bastar, Jharkhand, parts of Odisha/Andhra/MP) · Some Delhi NCR areas crime-wise |
Terrorism + political stability
| Terrorism risk | MODERATE — J&K terrorism continues (Pahalgam April 2025 attack, 26 dead) · Mumbai 2008 historical · Northeast separatist groups · Naxal Maoist · Strong NIA + intelligence |
| Political stability | Stable democracy · 2024 general election: NDA coalition (Modi 3rd term, June 2024) · State-level political volatility · Manipur ethnic conflict since May 2023 continuing |
Natural + practical risks
| Natural disasters | Monsoon flooding June-Sep (Kerala 2018, Assam recurrent, Mumbai/Chennai recurrent) · Cyclones east coast (Bay of Bengal — Yaas 2021, Biparjoy 2023) · Earthquakes Himalayan zone · Heat waves March-June |
| Road safety | VERY POOR road safety · Death rate ~109 per million but 150K+ annual deaths absolute (world's highest absolute) · Drive on left · Hire driver in cities recommended for foreigners |
| Healthcare risks | Moderate-High in some areas · Delhi/NCR air quality very poor winter (PM2.5 400+ Nov-Feb hazardous) · Dengue/chikungunya monsoon · Typhoid + Hepatitis A common · Drink only bottled/filtered water · Vaccinations: Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, MMR, Tdap recommended · Malaria some areas |
| Cyber risks | Moderate — CERT-In active · Data Protection Act 2023 (DPDP) effective 2024 · Phishing volume in Hindi/Tamil/Telugu/Bengali high · Some state-actor surveillance |
Emergency numbers
112 (general European-style emergency, since 2019) · 100 (police) · 101 (fire) · 102 (ambulance) · 1091 (women)
Recent changes (2023-2026)
2024-25: Modi 3rd term June 2024 · J&K Pahalgam terror attack Apr 2025 (26 dead, India-Pakistan tensions escalated) · Manipur ethnic conflict 2-year mark · DPDP Act enforcement scaling · Delhi air quality emergency winter 2024-25 · Wayanad landslides July 2024 (400+ dead)
Source: UK FCDO official advisory page · Cross-checked against US State Dept, Australian DFAT, Canadian travel advisories · Last verified 2026-04
See also: India country profile · safety atlas