New Delhi, July 24: A new study has revealed that Delhi ranks highest in India for the regular use of abusive language, with a staggering 80% of respondents admitting to the behavior.

The survey, conducted by the Selfie with Daughter Foundation in collaboration with Maharishi Dayanand University, spanned 11 years and drew on data from nearly 70,000 participants, including students, teachers, doctors, auto drivers, and police personnel. The findings have triggered widespread alarm about the normalization of verbal abuse, particularly as much of it is reportedly directed at women.

According to the survey, while men were the primary users of offensive language, 30% of women respondents in Delhi also acknowledged habitual use of such language. The report underscores that this is not a mere linguistic quirk or harmless slang—it has evolved into a pressing social issue requiring urgent redress.

Following Delhi, Punjab ranked second on the list, with 78% of people accepting they regularly use abusive language. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar followed closely, both reporting figures of 74%. Rajasthan came next with 68%, while Haryana recorded 62%. In western India, Maharashtra showed a lower incidence at 58%, with Gujarat slightly below that at 55%. Madhya Pradesh stood at 48%, while Uttarakhand had the lowest prevalence among the listed northern and central states at 45%.

In sharp contrast, the North-East region showed significantly lower rates of verbal abuse, ranging between 20% and 30%. Jammu and Kashmir recorded the lowest rate in the entire country, with just 15% of respondents admitting to using abusive language.

The study was led by Dr. Sunil Jaglan, a researcher at Maharishi Dayanand University and founder of the Selfie with Daughter Foundation, as part of the campaign titled “Gaali Band Ghar Abhiyan”, aimed at curbing the use of abusive language in Indian households and public life.

Dr. Jaglan emphasized the widespread and normalized use of abusive words in everyday communication, including among youth and even women, calling it a cultural crisis that must be addressed through social awareness and behavioral change.

The report also delves into the underlying reasons for this trend. Many Gen-Z participants blamed exposure to aggressive content on OTT platforms, violent video games, and social media, which they say has normalized and glamorized the use of strong language.

In Gujarat, which is often known for its generally polite culture, the study found that abusive language is still casually used among youth, particularly in friendly or joking interactions. In Madhya Pradesh, especially in village areas, certain local dialects include words that might sound harsh or abusive but are not always meant in anger.

Meanwhile, in metro cities like Mumbai and Pune, researchers linked the rise in harsh language to the stress of daily life, heavy traffic, and fast-paced urban living.