New Delhi: Infidelity, once considered taboo in society, is now creating a new definition in India. According to a recent survey, Indians have recorded a 16% decline in the tendency to cheat in relationships in the last two years. This figure not only reflects practical changes, but also indicates deep changes happening in thinking and ideological approaches. Gleeden, which is the world’s largest extra-masculine dating app, in a survey conducted with Ipsos (IPSOS) research found that in 2025 48% of the participants admitted that they cheated their partner, while in 2020 the number was 57%. Country Manager of Gleeden India, CIBIL SHIDEL, says, “The meaning of traditional marriage was always linked to monogamous relationships, but today’s couples have started questioning whether loyalty means only exclusiveness? Now the place of infidelity is replacing the open conversation, clear boundaries and the definitions of new kinds of relationships. Radical transparency is moving towards-whether it means ethical non-monogamy or open relationship. “
Monogamy’s decreasing ‘monopoly’
Monogammy – that is, the concept of living with just one partner – no longer popular as before. About half of the people in the survey believe that humans are not naturally monogamous. However, 50% of the Gen-X classes believe that monogamy is completely possible. The interesting fact is that 61% of the participants believe that the society wants people to remain one -sided, even if it is contrary to their natural tendency.
Increasing acceptance of open relationships
According to the survey, 69% of the participants said that open relationships are now becoming more acceptable in the society. At the same time, 35% of the people admitted that they had lived in an open relationship. Surprisingly, 41% of people will immediately get ready for an open relationship on their partner’s proposal. These relationships are not limited to physical relations only, but are based on mutual agreements, fixed rules and mutual respect. As Indian couples have started to openly accept these dialogues, instead of ‘Betrayal’, ‘Negotiated Independence’ has been replaced.
Travel towards ‘choice’ by deception
The decline of 16% does not mean that people are no longer feeling attracted outside the relationship, but now they are honestly playing instead of hiding it. Language is also changing – Now “cheating” instead of “Choice” and “Betrayal”, “boundaries” are being used. Women are playing an important role in this change. Women are now about 35% of the Indian users of Gleiden. The survey found that women do physical and emotional infidelity as the possibility of men (46%), but they define infidelity more strictly. For women, only flirting, emotional engagement, or thinking about anyone else can also be considered as ‘deception’. This increasing self-awareness is increasing the demand for such relationships, where the emotional honesty of ‘secret guilt’ remains without any ‘secret guilt’.
From ‘Happy Ever After’ to ‘Happy Onst’
According to statistics, 94% of Indians claim to be happy in their relationships and 84% are satisfied with their sex life, but only 25% of people feel completely satisfied. The rest of the people feel emotional engagement, thrill or lack of dialogue. This interval is giving rise to a new cultural phase, where people are looking for new ways to improve them instead of breaking relationships. In the survey, 60% of the married people said that if there is dissatisfaction in the marriage, they would prefer to have an intramarital affair within the marriage instead of divorce. At the same time, 47% of people believe that sometimes infidelity can also add new life to the relationship. 62% of the people said that if the cheating is a mistake of one time and the partners regret it with true mind, they would consider forgiving. This shows that Indian society is moving from moral absolutism to emotional realism.
The future of more ‘flexible’ relationships
The decreasing rate of infidelity does not mean returning to traditional monogamy, but it is a sign of the era of a new relationship.
According to the survey:
Thoughts about the relationships of 64% of the participants have changed in the last 5 years.
69% believe that open relationships are now more acceptable.
59% feel that this can become the new model of relationships in future.
Even though infidelity in some parts of society is still considered ‘scandal’, it is clear that today’s couples are giving clarity on chaos, curiosity criticism, and preferring open dialogue on secrets. The meaning of relations in India is changing rapidly. The loyalty is no longer defined by restrictions, but with respect. People are now deciding that they want to be monogamus, choose polymorous, or any way between. ‘Authenticity’ has now been replaced by ‘Authenticity’ instead of ‘Perfection’. And this change suggests that Indian society is entering a period where truth, consent and clarity are becoming a new foundation of relationships.
