Sexual consent in India: we’ve learned the vocabulary, but what about the behaviour?

What is the current understanding of consent among Indian men?

Recent research indicates favourable attitudes towards women's sexual autonomy among a significant portion of Indian men, at least in principle. A study published in PLOS ONE on January 8, 2025, which analysed data from 101,839 Indian men aged 15 to 54 collected through the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) between 2019 and 2021, found that 63% of men expressed favourable attitudes towards women’s sexual autonomy. The study further detailed that 75% of men agreed that a wife was justified in refusing sex if she was tired or simply not in the mood. This figure rose to 77% if her husband were having sex with other women, and 83% if he had a sexually transmitted infection. The research also highlighted a correlation between men holding more egalitarian attitudes towards decision-making within the home and a greater likelihood of supporting women’s sexual autonomy (Source: PLOS ONE, January 8, 2025).

Where does the gap between vocabulary and behaviour emerge?

Despite the reported favourable attitudes, anecdotal evidence suggests a discernible gap between men's verbal understanding of consent and their actual behaviour. A woman who grew up in Mumbai and moved to Delhi for work noted that while men often use the vocabulary of consent—terms like 'boundaries', 'comfort', and 'communication'—it sometimes feels like 'Internet speak', where the language has been learned without a full absorption of its meaning. She observed this particularly around intimacy, where an initial understanding of her 'no' might quickly be followed by visible disappointment, leading to a sense that consent can become conditional. This suggests that while the word 'no' is acknowledged, it may subtly diminish interest or lead to a perception of the woman being 'difficult' (Source: Conversations with a woman cited in The Hindu, September 12, 2026).