New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu today honoured India’s cleanest cities and sanitation champions at Vigyan Bhawan, marking a significant moment in the Swachh Bharat journey. While Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai led the Super Swachh League Top 10, the spotlight also turned to cities like Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow, recognised as Emerging Clean Cities and awarded under the Presidential Honours for Excellence.
The awards, presented across five population categories, acknowledged both seasoned performers and reform-driven risers. Other notable awardees included Panchgani, Mira Bhayandar, Patan, NDMC, Prayagraj, Secunderabad, and Vita. Cities such as Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur were also lauded for sanitation worker welfare.
In her address, the President praised the movement’s evolution as a “people’s campaign” that has changed societal behaviour and inspired civic pride. She emphasised the need for waste-to-wealth models and maximum citizen involvement in urban hygiene.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal underlined the Centre’s resolve for sustainable sanitation. He announced a City-to-City Mentorship Model involving 78 high-performing cities, and a renewed national push for legacy waste remediation starting August 15, 2025.
Secretary MoHUA, Srinivas R. Katikithala, described the journey from “Karni to Khoobi”—from duty to civic excellence. With new award categories, rising city achievers, and a sharper focus on community participation and environmental sustainability, the next phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 has clearly begun.
Click here for complete list of Awardees https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/jul/doc2025717588801.pdf
BI Bureau
