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India took a big step toward a cleaner future with the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 awards. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs hosted a lively ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday where President Droupadi Murmu presented 78 awards. This year’s theme, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” inspired cities to embrace sustainable practices. Over 14 crore people joined the survey, making it the world’s largest urban cleanliness assessment. Let’s explore the main features of this fascinating occasion!
Indore’s Unstoppable Streak
Indore won hearts again, securing the title of India’s cleanest city for the eighth year in a row. Its streets shine due to strong teamwork between residents and the municipal team, led by Commissioner Shivam Verma. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Indore’s proactive approach, noting its innovative waste management.As a result, Indore won the top spot in the recently established Super Swachh League, which is a division for cities that have maintained a high ranking for three years. In the group of cities with a population of one million or more, Surat came in second and Navi Mumbai came in third.
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Chandigarh’s Proud Moment
Chandigarh, the Union Territory, celebrated a big win as the second cleanest city in the 3 to 10 lakh population category. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, along with Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, accepted the award. Mayor Babla beamed with pride, saying Chandigarh sets a high standard for urban sanitation. Additionally, Chandigarh joined Noida and Mysore in the Super Swachh League for its population group, with Noida taking the top spot and Mysore in third.
Big Cities Shine in Swachh Shahar
This year, the awards introduced the Swachh Shahar category to spotlight new clean cities. Ahmedabad topped the list for cities with over 10 lakh people, followed by Bhopal and Lucknow. Meanwhile, in the 3 to 10 lakh population group, Mira-Bhayandar from Maharashtra led, with Bilaspur from Chhattishgarh and Jamshedpur from Jharkhand close behind. This new category ensured smaller cities got a fair chance to shine alongside bigger ones.
Special Awards for Special Efforts
The awards also celebrated unique achievements. Prayagraj won the Best Ganga Town award for its clean riverbanks. Secunderabad Cantonment earned the title of Best Cantonment Board for its sanitation efforts. Additionally, Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were named Best SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehar for prioritizing sanitation workers’ safety and dignity. The Uttar Pradesh government, Prayagraj Mela Authority, and Prayagraj Municipal Corporation were honored for managing waste during the Maha Kumbh, which saw 66 crore visitors.
A Fair and Inclusive Survey
The Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 covered over 4,500 cities, using 10 parameters and 54 indicators to assess cleanliness. Over 3,000 assessors inspected every ward across India for 45 days. Moreover, 11 lakh households shared their views, ensuring a transparent process. People participated through face-to-face talks, the Swachhata App, MyGov, and social media. To encourage fair competition, cities were for the first time divided into five population sizes: very small, small, medium, big, and million-plus.
Promising Cities and a Green Vision
The awards also recognized 34 cities as Promising Swachh Shehars, highlighting their progress in cleanliness. In their respective categories, cities such as Ujjain, Budhni, Panchgani, Saswad, Tirupati, and New Delhi also became members of the Super Swachh League. President Murmu praised the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” theme, calling it a step toward a circular economy. She also loved the waste-to-wealth memento gifted to her, emphasizing that “waste is best.”
Cleanliness as a Way of Life
President Murmu shared a powerful message, linking cleanliness to India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. She highlighted how cleanliness reflects India’s cultural and spiritual values. In 2025, she noted, cleanliness and faith came together beautifully. The Swachh Bharat Mission, a flagship initiative of the Narendra Modi government, continues to drive this change. As a result, cities like Indore have made cleanliness a way of life, inspiring others to follow.
Why It Matters
The Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 awards show India’s commitment to a cleaner, healthier future. From Indore’s eighth win to Ahmedabad’s rise, these cities prove that teamwork and innovation can transform urban spaces. With millions of citizens joining hands, the survey reflects a shared dream of a sustainable India. So, let’s keep the momentum going and make our cities shine brighter every day!