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

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

• 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
• The 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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