The study shows married couples are setting up complicated and strict rules for what they believe constitutes a commitment today
Indian couples now see emotional and mental bonds as infidelity, not just physical affairs. File Pic
The definition of infidelity in India has changed due to the rise of technology. Marriage is no longer just about being sexually faithful; it also includes emotional and mental fidelity. As technology (more specifically, dating apps and social media) removes the boundaries between friendship, flirting and desire, individuals are forced to redefine what loyalty means in the modern world.
Emotional closeness and mental distraction, which was previously thought of as harmless, are quickly becoming part of what betrayal means to couples today.
The Gleeden - IPSOS study of infidelity included 1,510 responses from individuals living in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. The study shows married couples are setting up complicated and strict rules for what they believe constitutes a commitment today. Rather than a simple "yes" or "no" for fidelity in the future there will be multiple layers of expectations.
Not just an affair anymore
Infidelity last decade was based on sexual infidelity being the most important thing. Today, 53 per cent of respondents said that sexual intimacy outside of marriage with a regular partner is infidelity; 47 per cent said any form of intimate relationship with the opposite sex outside of marriage is infidelity; finally - and surprisingly, given the slightly lower percentage - 40 per cent of respondents said that one night stands are cheating. The same trend continues at the city level. In Guwahati (62 per dent) and Mumbai (60 per cent) the condemning view of adultery continues; Hyderabad (40 per cent) and Bangalore (59 per cent) follow closely behind. Physical exclusivity will continue to be a requirement of Indian marriages moving forward.
It’s not just what you do, it’s who you feel
What has changed the most in terms of how emotional loyalty is judged today? Currently 40 per cent of Indian adults say that the emotional connection formed with someone else is also a form of infidelity. Among those living in cities that are beginning to grow rapidly, this is the most pronounced. Guwahati has 52 per cent, Patna has 44 per cent and Kolkata has 40 per cent of respondents indicating that developing an emotional bond with someone other than their spouse is considered a gross violation of the relationship of trust. Even in large metropolitan areas like Bengaluru (37 per cent) and Hyderabad (33 per cent), emotional betrayal is almost as harmful as physical betrayal. In 2026 marriage is no longer just about staying faithful through physical means, but rather the couple must also have the same emotional and mental fidelity.
Your body is here, but your mind isn’t
Nearly 39 per cent of adults in India believe there is also an act of infidelity when you are thinking of someone you personally know while having sexual relations with your spouse. This number increases significantly in cities like Mumbai (34 per cent), Guwahati (46 per cent), Kolkata (30 per cent), and Hyderabad (32 per cent); therefore, it is to be expected that many adults living in urban centres, intimacy between couples must include emotional and mental presence in addition to physical intimacy.
Private thoughts, public guilt
Publicly display your feelings of guilt by privately thinking about someone you know while masturbating. For example, approximately 31 per cent of Indian adults reported feeling that if a person is thinking of someone they personally know while they are masturbating represents infidelity. This belief is strongest in Ludhiana (40 per cent), Guwahati (37 per cent), and Mumbai (30 per cent), indicating that nowadays, many Indians expect loyalty not only in deeds but also in imagination.
2026 and infidelity within Indian marriages
A survey by Gleeden and IPSOS on infidelity in Indian marriages has shown a shift toward deeper emotional and psychological intimacy between married partners.
Sybil Shiddell, country manager of the app, says, “Married couples have also become more vulnerable to perceived betrayal. Infidelity, in 2026, is defined as more than just sexual contact with another person; it also includes who you emotionally rely on, who you fantasize about or think of sexually, and where your mind travels when feeling aroused. As such, married couples today must exhibit loyalty to one another not only through physical acts of fidelity, but also through attentiveness, fantasy, and emotional availability in their marriages.”
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