Uttar Pradesh Makes Big Leap in Swachh Survekshan; Lucknow Ranked Third Cleanest City in India

Uttar Pradesh has made significant progress in the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 rankings, with Lucknow achieving the position of India’s third cleanest city. This marks a major improvement for the state, which now has eight cities in the country’s top 25 for cleanliness.

 

The Swachh Survekshan, which began in 2016 with only 73 cities, has grown to cover over 4,500 urban areas across the nation. The 2024–25 survey assessed cities on various parameters including waste segregation, sanitation infrastructure, citizen participation, and sustainable waste management practices.

 

Lucknow’s remarkable rise in the rankings is credited to improved solid waste management systems, large-scale awareness campaigns, and active community involvement. The city’s administration implemented modern waste processing facilities and enhanced door-to-door garbage collection, ensuring higher citizen satisfaction scores.

 

The survey results show that in addition to Lucknow, several other cities from Uttar Pradesh have performed exceptionally well, with Varanasi, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, and Kanpur among the notable achievers. State officials highlighted that the aim is to have at least 12 cities in the top 25 by the next survey cycle.

 

Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri commended Uttar Pradesh for its rapid improvement in cleanliness rankings, noting that consistent policy measures and public engagement were key factors in this success.

 

The 2025 survey will place greater emphasis on sustainable waste-to-wealth initiatives, advanced recycling methods, and strict enforcement of sanitation regulations to ensure continuous improvement.