Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024: Cleanest Cities in India
The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024, conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), recognize the cleanest cities in India based on their urban sanitation, waste management, sustainability efforts, and citizen participation. The survey is the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness assessment, covering more than 4,300 cities and towns across India.
Top Cleanest Cities in India (Swachh Survekshan 2024)
The top-ranking cities were evaluated on parameters such as waste segregation, door-to-door garbage collection, public toilet cleanliness, treatment of wastewater, and innovative sanitation projects.
Cleanest Cities in India (Population >1 Million)
These cities ranked highest in the Million Plus Cities category (cities with a population of over 1 million):
- Indore, Madhya Pradesh – Retains the title
for the 7th consecutive year.
- Best in waste management, zero waste initiatives, and public participation.
- Strong focus on waste segregation at source and waste-to-energy projects.
- Surat, Gujarat
- Recognized for efficient waste disposal, air quality control, and water sanitation.
- Implemented smart waste management systems across the city.
- Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Known for its advanced waste segregation and recycling initiatives.
- Has one of the best urban composting and biogas plants in India.
- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- Strong focus on plastic waste management and beach cleanliness.
- Consistently ranks among India’s best-performing cities in cleanliness.
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Implemented eco-friendly waste treatment plants and urban green cover projects.
- Focused on public toilet maintenance and slum sanitation improvements.
- Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
- Efficient door-to-door waste collection and zero-waste model.
- High citizen involvement in sanitation awareness campaigns.
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Rajkot, Gujarat
- Chandrapur, Maharashtra
- . Pune, Maharashtra
Other cities in the Top 10 (Million Plus category)
Key Observations:
- Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai continue to dominate the rankings in large cities.
- Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra performed exceptionally well in the urban sanitation sector.
Cleanest Cities in India (Population <1 Million)
This category ranks small and medium-sized cities with populations less than 1 million.
Mysuru, Karnataka – Ranked as the Cleanest Small City
- Recognized for best solid waste management practices.
- Strong focus on sustainable sanitation and eco-friendly waste disposal.
New Delhi (NDMC area) – Best Capital City in Cleanliness
- Efficient public toilet maintenance and zero littering zones.
Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh
- Home to India’s first waste-to-cash model.
- Successfully implemented door-to-door waste collection and segregation.
Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
- High standards of temple town cleanliness and waste processing.
Kharagpur, West Bengal
- One of the fastest-improving cities in solid waste management.
Key Observations:
- Mysuru continues to set a national benchmark for smaller cities.
- South Indian cities performed strongly in sanitation rankings.
Cleanest States in India (Swachh Survekshan 2024)
Apart from city-wise rankings, Swachh Survekshan also evaluates states for their sanitation performance.
Top Performing States(Based on overall sanitation scores in urban areas)
- Maharashtra – Ranked as India’s Cleanest State
- Madhya Pradesh – Consistently among the best in urban cleanliness.
- Chhattisgarh – Recognized for sustainable waste management models.
- Andhra Pradesh – Strong performance in coastal and temple city cleanliness.
Key Observations:
- Western and Central India dominate the rankings, with Maharashtra and MP leading.
- Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have made major improvements in waste management.
Special Category Awards
Swachh Survekshan 2024 also gives special recognition to cities excelling in particular areas:
- Best City in Citizen Participation:Indore, MP
- Best City in Sustainable Waste Management:Surat, Gujarat
- Best City in Plastic Waste Management:Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Best Small City in Innovation & Sanitation:Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh
Key Observations:
- Indore wins top honors for engaging residents in cleanliness drives.
- Navi Mumbai leads in plastic recycling and reduction policies.
Evaluation Criteria: How Cities Were Ranked?
The rankings were based on 6 key factors, each contributing to the final score:
- Waste Collection & Segregation – Efficiency of door-to-door waste collection, waste segregation, and landfill reduction.
- Processing & Disposal – Cities were assessed on waste recycling and composting initiatives.
- Public Toilet Cleanliness – Availability, maintenance, and hygiene standards of public toilets.
- Citizen Feedback – Public surveys and complaints resolution efficiency.
- Sustainability Measures – Cities were rated on eco-friendly waste-to-energy initiatives.
- Innovative Practices – Introduction of new technology and green initiatives in waste management.
Key Takeaways from Swachh Survekshan 2024
- Indore remains India’s cleanest city for the 7th year in a row.
- Mysuru leads among small cities in sanitation standards.
- Navi Mumbai and Surat show strong improvements in waste management.
- Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh dominate state-wise rankings.
- Cities are adopting innovative solutions like waste-to-energy plants and plastic recycling units.
Future Recommendations:
- Expand waste segregation programs to all cities.
- Enhance public toilet access and sanitation awareness.
- Promote zero-landfill models for better sustainability.
- Encourage more cities to adopt smart waste tracking and AI-based monitoring systems.
The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024 highlight the success of India’s urban sanitation programs under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai continue to set national benchmarks, while smaller cities like Mysuru and Ambikapur showcase innovative waste management models.
With continued government efforts, public participation, and technological advancements, India is making significant progress toward cleaner and more sustainable cities.
