Signing you in

That question inspired the India Today and Reckitt Consent Culture Survey, which engaged 6,379 women across every state in India, in 11 languages, between May 5 and May 20 this year. The objective was not to assess legal awareness alone, but to better understand how women experience consent in their everyday lives. The findings offer valuable insights into how India can continue strengthening a culture of respect, dignity and mutual understanding.

These findings suggest that strengthening a culture of consent is not only about legal awareness. It is equally about nurturing everyday behaviours rooted in respect, empathy and mutual understanding.

Over the years, Reckitt has sought to contribute to this journey through initiatives such as Durex The Birds and Bees Talk, a life-skills programme that has reached more than four million young people across 10 states. The programme focuses on encouraging informed conversations at an early age and creating safe spaces where young people can discuss respect, boundaries and healthy relationships with confidence.

These insights suggest that India is well positioned to build on the progress already underway. Awareness initiatives have laid an important foundation. The next opportunity is to establish a shared framework that reinforces these principles consistently across homes, schools, workplaces and public spaces.

This is why the country should consider adopting a Consent Charter.

At its heart, such a charter would reinforce a simple but powerful principle: every individual has the right to make decisions about their body, personal space, time and boundaries.

Silence should never be interpreted as consent. Every individual has the right to say ‘no’ without feeling the need to apologise, explain or justify that decision. Simply put, ‘no’ is a complete sentence.

Consent is also ongoing. Agreeing once does not imply agreement forever. Every person has the right to change their mind at any stage, and that choice deserves respect.

The idea of consent also extends well beyond intimate relationships. It applies equally to everyday situations, asking before hugging someone, seeking permission before sharing photographs, respecting children’s boundaries, borrowing personal belongings, entering another person’s personal space or accessing private information. In many ways, consent is simply about respecting another person’s choices in every aspect of daily life.

The survey also found that most women view responsibility as shared. More than one in two respondents believe that everyone involved in an interaction shares equal responsibility for ensuring consent and maintaining respectful boundaries. This shared responsibility should be central to any national framework.

A national Consent Charter need not be lengthy or complex. Its essence could be captured in a few simple principles. Consent must be informed, voluntary and ongoing. Every ‘no’ deserves respect. Respectful relationships begin by asking, not assuming.

India has demonstrated time and again that lasting social change is possible when governments, educators, businesses, communities and citizens work together. Public awareness around sanitation, hygiene and road safety has steadily become part of everyday behaviours through sustained and collective effort.

Consent presents a similar opportunity. The growing willingness to engage in these conversations, reflected throughout this survey, provides a strong foundation for the future. A Consent Charter would not be about creating new obligations. It would be about reinforcing a shared understanding of respect, choice and dignity, and helping these values become part of everyday life.

By building on the momentum that already exists, India has an opportunity to foster a culture where asking, listening and respecting boundaries become second nature. A Consent Charter could be an important next step in that shared national journey.