The Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards were conferred by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at a grand ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the event recognised top-performing cities and states in the country’s annual cleanliness survey, with special emphasis on consistent achievers and urban sanitation innovation.

A total of 43 national awards were announced, including accolades for 23 Super Swachh League Cities — a newly created category to honour cities that have shown sustained excellence in cleanliness. The event was graced by Union Minister Manohar Lal, Minister of State Shri Tokhan Sahu, and Secretary, MoHUA, Shri Srinivas Katikithala.

Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow emerged as the top "Swachh Shehars" in this year’s survey, representing the new generation of clean and sustainable cities in India. Following the principle of ‘One City, One Award’, a total of 34 cities across various States and Union Territories were recognised as Promising Swachh Shehars, providing smaller cities with a level playing field to compete with their larger counterparts.

Among the major recognitions:

• Best Ganga Town was awarded to Prayagraj

• Best Cantonment Board went to Secunderabad Cantonment

• Best SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehar were GVMC Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur

A special recognition was conferred on the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj Mela Adhikari, and Prayagraj Municipal Corporation for their effective urban waste management during the Mahakumbh, which saw an estimated footfall of 66 crore people, making it the world’s largest congregation.

In her keynote address, President Murmu praised the Ministry’s efforts in mainstreaming the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) and emphasised the power of circular economy. “Waste is best,” she said, lauding the role of urban swachhata in youth empowerment, green job creation, and entrepreneurship through Self Help Groups (SHGs).

She commended cities with populations under one lakh for establishing high standards of cleanliness, and praised initiatives like school interventions, source segregation start-ups, and zero-waste colonies. “I am heartened to see that cities have embraced swachhata as a part of our swabhav and sanskaar,” the President remarked. “The Viksit Bharat of 2047 will be exemplary for the world.”

A key highlight of the ceremony was the launch of the Swachh City Partnership initiative by Manohar Lal. Under this programme, all 78 top-performing cities will mentor one low-performing city from their respective states, promoting peer learning and handholding. “Each one clean one,” he said, underlining the need to uplift underachieving cities through collaboration.

The Minister also announced the Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation programme, a one-year initiative launching on August 15, 2025, to fast-track legacy waste remediation, reclaim valuable urban land, and enhance scientific waste processing capacities.

MoHUA Secretary Srinivas Katikithala welcomed the dignitaries and reflected on the decade-long journey of the Swachh Bharat Mission. He noted how the revamped Swachh Survekshan framework — with 10 new parameters and five population categories — has made the process more inclusive and competitive. “It’s time we not only look ahead to the next decade, but set a clear roadmap for Viksit Bharat by 2047,” he stated.

In a symbolic gesture celebrating sustainability, President Murmu was presented with a handcrafted sarangi — a musical instrument made from recycled materials — exemplifying the waste-to-wealth approach.

The ceremony also featured the digital launch of the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Results Dashboard, offering an interactive snapshot of city rankings and achievements. An engaging audiovisual presentation showcased the milestones of Super Swachh League Cities and the growing nationwide commitment to urban cleanliness.