According to the government’s top urban cleanliness assessment, Swachh Survekshan 2024-25, Indore has remained the cleanest city in India for the eighth year in a row. President Droupadi Murmu gave out the prestigious award at the ceremony on Thursday, which honored exceptional accomplishments in waste management and urban cleanliness.
Indore retained its leadership among the newly introduced “Super Swachh League Cities” a category recognizing consistent top performers in the national cleanliness drive. Surat and Navi Mumbai secured the second and third positions, respectively, reaffirming western India’s stronghold in urban hygiene.
Cities with Historical High Performance Gain Recognition
To honor cities that have consistently placed in the top three over the preceding three years and that continue to rank in the top 20% of their respective demographic categories, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar established the “Super League” category in 2024. In India’s rapidly urbanizing terrain, this elite club aims to set standards for uniform sanitation management performance.
According to this year’s poll, Surat has regained its reputation following decades of shame associated with previous public health emergencies, while Indore has maintained its unbroken record since 2016. In terms of infrastructure sanitation measures, Navi Mumbai, a planned city with robust waste segregation systems, continues to perform exceptionally well.
Cleanest Cities Identified by Population Size
The awards also highlighted top cities in many population categories, in addition to the Super League. When it came to cities with populations between 50,000 and three lakh, New Delhi Municipal Council was in the lead, while Noida was at the top of the three-to-ten lakh population category. Vita in Maharashtra emerged best in the 20,000 to 50,000 categories, with Panchgani securing first place among towns with fewer than 20,000 residents.
These recognitions illustrate the nationwide commitment to cleanliness, extending beyond metropolitan hubs to smaller municipalities and hill towns, promoting a decentralized sanitation success model.
Scale, Engagement and Rigorous Evaluation Define 2024-25 Edition
Billed as the world’s most extensive urban sanitation audit, the 2024-25 Swachh Survekshan covered 4,500 urban local bodies a dramatic expansion from the 73 municipalities assessed in its inaugural year, 2016. In 45 days, more than 3,000 evaluators visited every ward and conducted assessments on the ground, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
The evaluation encompassed over 11 lakh households and integrated 54 detailed indicators under 10 core parameters, covering solid waste management, public feedback, citizen engagement, wastewater treatment and innovation in cleanliness initiatives.
One of the main pillars of this year’s evaluation framework was public involvement. With over 140 million citizen interactions made possible by grassroots outreach, including digital platforms like MyGov and the Swachhata App, in-person consultations, and extensive social media mobilizations, the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) has developed into a highly participatory movement. The mission’s community-driven ethos and incorporation into general civic consciousness are reflected in this wave of engagement.
Sustained Policy Momentum Drives Sanitation Outcomes
The recognition conferred through these annual accolades extends beyond operational performance, reflecting the dynamic evolution of policy frameworks governing urban sanitation. The Swachh Survekshan serves as a strategic catalyst and an evaluative tool as Indian cities negotiate the challenges of rapid urban growth. It uses empirical data, competitive benchmarks and public engagement to promote small but steady improvements throughout municipalities.
The 2024–2025 awards cycle, which saw 78 different honors bestowed, serves as an example of a more extensive shift. It denotes a developing sanitary infrastructure supported by steadfast government assistance, creative policymaking and a gradually internalized cultural shift towards cleanliness in India’s cities.
