President Droupadi Murmu will confer the esteemed Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards for urban cleanliness during a national event organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Thursday.
Swachh Survekshan(SS) 2024-25 marks the ninth edition of Swachh Survekshan, and it is the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey and a key component of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U).
The ceremony will reveal the cleanest cities in India, recognising the exceptional efforts made by urban local bodies in advancing the mission.
This year’s awards will be conferred across four major categories, which include Super Swachh League (SSL) Cities, the top three clean cities in five different population categories, Special Categories including Ganga Towns, Cantonment Boards, SafaiMitra Suraksha, and Mahakumbh, and the State Level Awards for Promising Clean Cities of States/UTs.
What is Swachh Survekshan?
The Swachh Survekshan was launched in 2016 with only 73 local bodies; the initiative has now expanded exponentially to encompass over 4,500 cities.
The 2024-25 edition carries forward this legacy with a focus on the theme of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ according to the MoHUA.
More than 3,000 trained assessors performed detailed ward-level inspections throughout the country over a span of 45 days.
A benchmark of this year’s assessment was its inclusivity and scale.
The ministry surveyed more than 11 lakh households.
The public participation reached a record high of 14 crore citizens through face-to-face interactions, the Swachhata App, MyGov, and various social media platforms.
Methodology of Survey
Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 employed a structured, technology-driven methodology based on 10 parameters and 54 indicators, providing an in-depth understanding of sanitation and waste management in urban India.
The ministry also mentioned that the distinguished feature of the current edition is the introduction of the Super Swachch League (SSL).
The SSL is a special league recognising cities that have consistently demonstrated excellence in cleanliness.
It includes cities that came in the top three at least once in the past 3 years and remain in the top 20 per cent of their population category this year.
The league aims to recognise the efforts of consistent performers and inspire others to strive for better performance.
For the first time, authorities have divided the cities into five population-based categories to ensure a more equitable evaluation.
The categories include Very Small Cities (population under 20,000), Small Cities (20,000 – 50,000), Medium Cities (50,000 – 3 lakh), Big Cities (3 – 10 lakh), and Million-Plus Cities (over 10 lakh).
The analysis team evaluates each category using criteria tailored to its size and needs.
This approach ensures that smaller cities compete fairly and receive recognition for their progress.
Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 drives behavioural change, rewards excellence, and inspires collective civic pride, and it showcases India’s urban transformation.
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