The socio-demographic, sex work characteristics and the factors affecting HIV prevalence among female sex workers (FSWs) are not well known in low prevalence states showing rising trends within the HIV epidemic. This paper studies these attributes among FSWs in three north (Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) and one east Indian states (Jharkhand). Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) data, collected from 4491 FSWs in the study states, were analysed, with HIV status as the dependent variable and several socio-demographic, sex work, knowledge and agency characteristics as independent variables. Multivariate analysis found a number of factors such as age above 25 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 5.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–18.1), client solicitation in rented rooms (AOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2–6.4) and the use of mobile phones for client solicitation (AOR 5.1, 95% CI 1.6–16.0) to be significantly associated with HIV risk. The study found low levels of HIV programme services uptake and HIV/AIDS knowledge among FSWs in the study states. There is an urgent need to focus on these risk factors for improving the effectiveness of the ongoing HIV prevention efforts and attaining the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ goal of ‘Ending the AIDS epidemic’ by 2030.