India’s drive for urban cleanliness hit a high note as the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 results were unveiled in New Delhi. Spearheaded by President Droupadi Murmu, the event showcased a remarkable achievement: Uttar Pradesh emerged as the top-performing state, while Indore retained its coveted title as India’s cleanest city for the eighth consecutive year. Lucknow also made history as Uttar Pradesh’s first 7-star Garbage–Free City, ranking third nationally in the million-plus population category.
🌟 State-Level Triumph: Uttar Pradesh Leads from the Front
Uttar Pradesh claimed the national spotlight with high honors across multiple categories. Lucknow, the state capital, made headlines by securing third position among cities with over one million residents. With a perfect 7‑star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating—an unprecedented feat for UP—the city received the prestigious Presidential Award.
Additionally, Prayagraj was declared the Cleanest Ganga Town, while Agra, Gorakhpur, and Moradabad also received top recognitions in their respective categories. Notably, six UP cities now rank among the top 20 cleanest big cities in India, reflecting a broader transformation driven by consistent sanitation reforms.
🏙️ Indore’s Consistent Cleanliness Record
Indore continues to set the benchmark in urban hygiene. Crowned India’s cleanest city for the eighth straight year, it leads the newly launched Super Swachh League—a category for cities with a population over one million that consistently perform at the top.
The city earned perfect scores across key metrics such as door-to-door garbage collection, source segregation, scientific waste handling, and maintenance of public amenities. Its success is attributed to strict civic discipline, robust public participation, and proactive municipal efforts, making Indore a model for other urban centers.
Read how Indore maintained its cleanest city title for 8 years: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/how-indore-became-indias-cleanest-city-for-8th-time-in-a-row-8892921
📊 National Cleanliness Rankings: Standouts Around India
- Surat secured 2nd place in the Super Swachh League, praised for 100% sustainable waste processing and community-led sanitation work.
- Navi Mumbai consistently held 3rd position with its comprehensive waste management system.
- Among the million-plus category, Ahmedabad topped the list, followed by Bhopal and Lucknow, thanks to high scores in cleanliness, sanitation, and citizen involvement.
- Smaller cities also gained momentum: Noida clinched the top spot among cities with 3–10 lakh population, while Chandigarh and Mysuru joined the top three.
✅ Key Success Factors Behind These Rankings
- Active Community Engagement – Millions of people participated in cleanliness drives, swiftly addressing local concerns and driving behavioural change.
- Efficient Waste Management – Cities adopted sustainable practices like composting, plastic recycling, and mechanical sweeping.
- Stringent Governance – Penalties for littering, real-time monitoring, and specialized sanitation campaigns (e.g. “Ho Halla” in Indore) fostered civic accountability.
- Infrastructural Upgrades – Improved urban infrastructure such as revamped dumpsites, cleaner water bodies, and well-maintained public toilets made a visible impact.
🔍 Why This Matters
- Urban Health & Livability – Clean environments help prevent disease, enhance public health, and improve quality of life.
- Economic & Tourism Boost – Cleanliness drives tourism, attracts investment, and reinforces civic pride.
- Policy Model – These results provide blueprints for nationwide Swachh Bharat Mission efforts.
- UP’s Governance Strategy – Demonstrates the success of UP’s sanitation strategies ahead of key elections.
🌟 What Lies Ahead?
The Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 results mark a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of sustainable urban cleanliness. With 4,500+ cities surveyed, the 9th annual ranking reaffirms that sustained citizen engagement, effective governance, and persistent infrastructure investment are essential for enduring cleanliness. As Indore coaches other cities through the Super Swachh League and UP’s cities continue to climb the charts, many Indian towns can learn from these success stories.
✅ Final Thoughts
The Swachh Survekshan results deliver a powerful message: cleanliness is now a cultural flagship supported by data-driven urban management. Uttar Pradesh’s rise as a sanitation leader, coupled with Indore’s unmatched consistency, illustrates that every city—big or small—can achieve hygiene excellence through collective effort, innovation, and strong civic leadership. Their success doesn’t just serve as recognition but also as a source of inspiration, proving that “Clean India” is more than a political slogan—it’s an attainable national aspiration.
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