In a proud moment for Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow has emerged among the top Swachh Shehars (Clean Cities) in the prestigious Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards, conferred by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the event celebrated the achievements of 23 Super Swachh League Cities, with Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Bhopal leading the rankings.
The awards ceremony, graced by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal and MoS Shri Tokhan Sahu, marked a watershed moment in India’s cleanliness journey, especially for Uttar Pradesh, which stole the spotlight with multiple recognitions at the national level.
Uttar Pradesh Leads the Way
Lucknow’s recognition as a Top Swachh Shehar underscores the city’s sustained efforts toward urban sanitation, waste management, and citizen participation. The capital city has become a role model for other urban centers, setting new benchmarks in cleanliness and civic responsibility.
Further adding to the state’s glory, Prayagraj was awarded Best Ganga Town, and a special commendation was given to the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj Mela Adhikari, and Prayagraj Municipal Corporation for their outstanding waste management during the Mahakumbh, the world’s largest spiritual gathering that witnessed an astounding footfall of 66 crore people. This recognition showcases UP’s exceptional capability in managing large-scale urban events with sustainable sanitation solutions.
Additionally, Gorakhpur was awarded in the category of Best SafaiMitra Surakshit Shehar, recognizing its proactive steps to ensure the safety, dignity, and welfare of sanitation workers – a core commitment of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
One State, Multiple Wins
Uttar Pradesh emerged as a torchbearer of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by achieving awards across diverse categories:
- Top Swachh Shehar: Lucknow
- Best Ganga Town: Prayagraj
- Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar: Gorakhpur
- Special Recognition for Mahakumbh Waste Management
The state also saw several of its smaller towns recognized under the Promising Swachh Shehars category, showcasing holistic sanitation reforms from metros to tier-3 cities. These recognitions affirm the state’s inclusive and decentralized approach to swachhata.
Presidential Commendation and Vision for Viksit Bharat
Addressing the gathering, the Hon’ble President commended the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for institutionalizing the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) and promoting circular economy initiatives. “Waste is best,” she noted, emphasizing the link between sustainability, entrepreneurship, and youth engagement.
She especially praised cities below one lakh population for their innovative practices and commended school-level interventions, zero-waste colonies, and startup involvement — all hallmarks of Uttar Pradesh’s on-ground swachhata efforts.
New Initiatives Unveiled
Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal launched the Swachh City Partnership initiative, under which the top 78 cities will mentor and support one underperforming city in their respective states. “Zaroorat hai sabko saath lekar chalne ki,” he stressed, echoing the principle of inclusive growth.
He also announced the Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Program, set to begin on August 15, 2025, aimed at unlocking urban land and promoting scientific waste processing — another area where UP has already shown early leadership.
Digital Dashboard and Future Roadmap
The newly launched Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Results Dashboard provides a real-time, interactive overview of city-wise performances, further enhancing transparency and citizen engagement.
MoHUA Secretary Shri Srinivas Katikithala highlighted that the revamped framework—with ten new parameters and five city categories—has enabled smaller cities in states like Uttar Pradesh to compete fairly with metropolitan counterparts. “The next decade of Swachh Bharat must now align with our vision for Viksit Bharat 2047,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh — A Beacon of Swachhata and Sustainability
From Lucknow’s metropolitan leadership to Prayagraj’s spiritual sanitation success, and from Gorakhpur’s inclusive worker welfare to groundbreaking waste management at the Mahakumbh, Uttar Pradesh has solidified its position as a national leader in the cleanliness movement. The state’s multifaceted performance is not only a testament to administrative vision and citizen cooperation but also an inspiring model for other states in India’s Swachhata journey.
The road to a Viksit Bharat by 2047 is being paved by states like Uttar Pradesh, where swachhata is not just policy-it is becoming a way of life.