Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards

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July 17, 2025

Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards

Recently, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards in a national ceremony hosted by MoHUA in New Delhi.

Quality Council of India (QCI) 

  • QCI was established in 1996 through a Cabinet decision as an independent, autonomous body under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
  • Structure: It is supported by the Government of India and industry bodies like ASSOCHAM, CII, and FICCI.
  • Legal Status: QCI is a non-profit organization registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  • Function: It ensures third-party assessment and promotes quality standards across sectors like education, health, environment, and governance.

About Swachh Survekshan Awards

  • Swachh Survekshan is the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2016 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan–Urban.
  • Implementation Framework: The survey is conducted in partnership with the Quality Council of India (QCI) and aims to assess cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation standards in cities and towns.
  • Purpose: It recognizes and rewards the efforts of cities and states that excel in urban sanitation, promote citizen engagement, and improve solid waste management systems.

About Swachh Survekshan 2024-25

  • Scope and Coverage: Over 4,500 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) were assessed in 2024-25 through the efforts of more than 3,000 trained assessors over a rigorous 45-day field inspection period.
  • Citizen Participation: The survey reached over 14 crore citizens via digital platforms, in-person engagement, and social media, reflecting a strong community-centric approach.

Award Categories in 2024-25

Swachh Survekshan

  • Super Swachh League (SSL): A new category was  introduced this year, the SSL features cities that consistently performed in the top tier over the last three years.
    • These cities must have ranked in the top three at least once in the past three years.
    • They should remain in the top 20% of their population category in the current year.
  • Top Clean Cities by Population Category: For the first time, cities were classified into five population-based groups for fair comparison:
    • Very Small Cities (< 20,000)
    • Small Cities (20,000 – 50,000
    • Medium Cities (50,000 – 3 lakh)
    • Big Cities (3 – 10 lakh)
    • Million-Plus Cities (> 10 lakh)
  • Special Category Awards:  Recognitions are also extended to:
    • Ganga Towns (under Namami Gange Mission)
    • Cantonment Boards
    • SafaiMitra Suraksha Champions
    • Mahakumbh City Initiatives
  • Swachh SurvekshanThe award for Best Ganga Town to Prayagraj, while Secunderabad Cantonment was honoured as the Best Cantonment Board for its exemplary sanitation efforts.
  • GVMC Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were declared Best SaifaiMitra Surakshit Shehar for their outstanding commitment to the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
  • A special recognition was accorded to State Govt. of UP, Prayagraj Mela Adhikari and Prayagraj Municipal Corporation, for its exceptional urban waste management during the Mahakumbh.
  • One City, One Award’ principle: The top-performing cities from each State were recognized as Promising Swachh Shehars. 
    • A total of 34 cities across various States and Union Territories earned this distinction, showcasing their notable progress in urban cleanliness and sanitation excellence.

Assessment Methodology

  • Parameters and Indicators: It  used 10 comprehensive parameters and 54 indicators covering waste processing, sanitation infrastructure, cleanliness of public spaces, and citizen feedback.
  • Data Collection and Validation: On-ground verification, citizen feedback, photographic evidence, and real-time monitoring were used to ensure transparency and accuracy of assessments.

Initiatives Launched at the award

  • Swachh City Partnership : Under it each of the 78 top-performing cities will mentor a poor-performing city in their state, promoting peer learning under the “Each One Clean One” approach.
  • Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme: It is a one-year special programme starting from August 15, 2025.
    • It will  fast-track legacy waste remediation, enhance scientific waste processing, and unlock valuable urban land.

Conclusion

Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 not only promotes competitive cleanliness among cities but also fosters sustainable urban development. With innovations like the Super Swachh League and population-based classification, the survey is evolving into a more inclusive and aspirational benchmark for India’s sanitation goals.

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Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
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Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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