NEW DELHI: Indore has once again cemented its reputation as India’s cleanest city, emerging at the top in the one-million-plus population category in the latest Swachh Survekshan Awards announced on Thursday. Surat, Navi Mumbai, and Vijayawada followed closely in the rankings.
The awards, part of the Centre’s flagship Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban, are touted as the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, conducted annually by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
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This edition introduced the new “Super League” category — an elite recognition for cities consistently performing at the top. Indore, which previously topped the overall rankings for a record seven consecutive years until 2024, continued its winning streak in this special category. Surat, which once battled a plague outbreak, shared the top spot in the previous edition, symbolizing its remarkable urban transformation.
Among other categories:
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Noida was declared the cleanest city in the 3–10 lakh population category.
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New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) topped in the 50,000–3 lakh population bracket.
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Vita (Maharashtra) led in the 20,000–50,000 population category.
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Panchgani emerged as the cleanest among cities with less than 20,000 population.
The Swachh Survekshan Awards have grown exponentially since their inception in 2016 — from covering just 73 urban local bodies to 4,500 cities this year. According to officials, over 3,000 assessors evaluated wards across the country over a rigorous 45-day exercise, covering more than 11 lakh households and involving direct interaction with 14 crore citizens via surveys, the Swachhata App, MyGov, and social media platforms.
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The awards are based on 10 parameters and 54 indicators, offering a holistic view of urban sanitation and waste management.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who introduced the “Super League” concept in September 2024, presided over the event along with Minister of State Tokhan Sahu and MoHUA Secretary Srinivas K.
A total of 78 awards were presented at the ceremony, reaffirming the Centre’s push for sustainable urban sanitation and active citizen participation in keeping Indian cities clean.
