Swachh Survekshan 2025: Indore retains top spot for 8th time — Which city from Haryana made it to clean list?
Harvinder Kaur
Chandigarh, July 18, 2025: Indore has done it again! For the eighth consecutive year, the city has clinched the top spot in the Swachh Survekshan 2025, reaffirming its status as India’s cleanest city.But the spotlight wasn’t only on Madhya Pradesh — this year, Haryana also made a notable mark in the national cleanliness rankings.
Karnal has made Haryana proud by emerging as one of the top three cleanest cities in the country in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings announced on Thursday.
The award was received on behalf of the city by Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Vipul Goel, Karnal Mayor Renu Bala Gupta, and Municipal Commissioner Vaishali Sharma from President Droupadi Murmu.
With this achievement, Karnal becomes the first city in Haryana to be honoured by the President in the national cleanliness awards, marking a significant milestone in the state’s urban sanitation journey.
The city was awarded by President Droupadi Murmu for being adjudged third in the ‘Swachh Shehar’ category for cities with a population between 50,000 and 3 lakh
At a grand ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards, recognizing India’s top-performing cities in cleanliness and sanitation.
The event marked a decade of transformative progress under the Swachh Bharat Mission, with this year’s edition unveiling a new era of ‘Super Swachh Cities’ and strategic partnerships to uplift underperformers.
The prestigious Super Swachh League now boasts three champions at the top: Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai — cities that continue to set national benchmarks in urban sanitation.
Joining the league of India’s new clean capitals are Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow, which were lauded for redefining swachhata standards and embracing circular economy principles.These cities have rapidly climbed the rankings, demonstrating the power of community engagement, innovation, and sustainable urban governance.
A Swachh Revolution Across States
In keeping with the “One City, One Award” principle, 34 cities from various States and Union Territories were honoured as Promising Clean Cities, reflecting a pan-India movement that includes not just metros, but also smaller towns that are stepping up with zeal.
Mahakumbh, Prayagraj, and Cantonment Excellence
Among notable awards:
- Prayagraj was declared Best Ganga Town, with special commendation for managing waste during the Mahakumbh, which hosted a staggering 66 crore visitors.
- Secunderabad Cantonment bagged the title of Best Cantonment Board, setting new standards in military-area sanitation.
- GVMC Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were felicitated as Best SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehars, honouring their commitment to sanitation worker safety and dignity.
Peer Learning for Progress: ‘Swachh City Partnership’ Launched
In a forward-looking move, Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal launched the Swachh City Partnership, where 78 top cities will mentor one underperforming city each — aiming to uplift all through shared knowledge and support. “Zaroorat hai sabko saath lekar chalne ki,” the Minister said, emphasizing the importance of collective progress.
The government also announced an Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Program starting August 15, 2025, to fast-track legacy waste processing and reclaim urban land. President Murmu praised the ‘Waste to Wealth’ philosophy, noting how it fuels green jobs and entrepreneurship while promoting the 3R mantra — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
The Swachh Survekshan Dashboard was digitally unveiled, offering real-time data on rankings and initiatives. Officials emphasized the importance of setting a roadmap not just for the next survey, but towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
As the ceremony concluded, a handcrafted sarangi made from recycled waste was presented to the Hon’ble President, symbolizing the fusion of sustainability with traditional Indian craftsmanship.