President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, will present the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 Awards at a prestigious national ceremony to be held on 17 July 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event is organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and will be attended by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal and MoS Shri Tokhan Sahu.
India’s Largest Cleanliness Survey Reaches New Milestone
This year marks the 9th edition of the Swachh Survekshan (SS)—the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey. The awards aim to recognize the efforts of cities in advancing the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U).
A total of 78 awards will be given out across four key categories, celebrating cities that have shown leadership, innovation, and community engagement in urban sanitation and cleanliness.
Massive Citizen Participation
Over 14 crore citizens participated in the assessment, setting a new benchmark for public engagement. Citizens contributed through face-to-face surveys, the Swachhata App, MyGov, and social media platforms.
This outreach demonstrates India’s growing consciousness around clean urban living and the rising involvement of residents in shaping their cities.
Award Categories and New Features
The awards will be presented in the following categories:
- Super Swachh League Cities
- Top 3 clean cities in each of the 5 population categories
- Special Categories: Ganga Towns, Cantonment Boards, Safai Mitra Suraksha, Mahakumbh cities
- State Level Awards: Promising clean city from each State/UT
For the first time, cities are classified into five population-based categories:
- Very Small Cities: less than 20,000 population
- Small Cities: 20,000–50,000
- Medium Cities: 50,000–3 lakh
- Big Cities: 3–10 lakh
- Million-Plus Cities: more than 10 lakh
This ensures a level playing field, allowing smaller towns to shine alongside metro cities.
Smart, Structured Assessment Methodology
The 2024–25 edition introduced a smarter and more structured approach. The assessment covered:
- 10 well-defined parameters
- 54 performance indicators
- Over 11 lakh households surveyed
- 3,000+ assessors on-ground for 45 days
The central theme this year is “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, promoting sustainability and eco-conscious practices.
Spotlight: Super Swachh League (SSL)
A special feature this year is the Super Swachh League, recognizing cities that have consistently ranked in the top three in the past three years and continue to rank in the top 20% of their population group.
This elite league not only honors high performers but also motivates other cities to rise to the challenge.
Inspiring a Cleaner Urban India
Swachh Survekshan has grown from just 73 cities in 2016 to more than 4,500 cities today. It has become a national movement—shaping mindsets, building civic pride, and encouraging local bodies to go beyond routine sanitation work.
Through initiatives like these, the government strengthens its commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and people-driven urban development.
Conclusion
As President Murmu prepares to confer the awards, the nation celebrates the spirit of Swachh Bharat. These awards recognize not just clean streets and cities, but the commitment of millions to transform urban India.
To explore past rankings and winners, visit Swachh Survekshan official website.
