Module 16 • Swachh Survekshan & Clean Air2026-05-2512 min read
Urban Cleanliness & Air Quality: Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 & Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025
Target Exam: UPPCS / UPPSC Combined State Services•Official Sources: Uttar Pradesh State Gazettes, Budget & Official ReleasesUttar Pradesh State Gazettes, Budget & Official Releases
1. Swachh Survekshan 2024–25: Historic Breakthrough for UP Cities
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Conducting Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
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Lucknow's Historic Performance:
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Secured 3rd rank nationally in the Million-Plus (>10 lakh population) category (behind Indore and Surat).
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Became the first city in Uttar Pradesh to achieve the prestigious 7-Star Garbage Free City (GFC) rating.
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Achieved a stellar score of 12,001 out of 12,500 marks.
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Cleanest Ganga City Honors:
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Prayagraj awarded the Cleanest Ganga City (>1 lakh population category) along with the special Swachh Maha Kumbh Award for zero-waste riverfront sanitation.
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Varanasi also maintained its top-tier standing among religious riverine cities.
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Other Major Urban Triumphs:
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Noida: Conferred the Super Swachh League award in the 3–10 lakh population category.
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Gorakhpur: Ranked 3rd nationally in the Safai Mitra Surakshit Sheher category, achieving a 5-Star GFC rating.
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Agra: Ranked 32nd nationally, awarded 5-Star GFC and recognized as the Emerging Clean City.
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Statewide Saturation in Top 20 (Million-Plus):
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Uttar Pradesh created history with 6 cities in the National Top 20 (Million-Plus):
1.
Lucknow (3rd)
2.
Agra (10th)
3.
Ghaziabad (11th)
4.
Prayagraj (12th)
5.
Kanpur (13th)
6.
Varanasi (17th)
2. Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025 (Clean Air Survey under NCAP)
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Conducting Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
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Objective: Assesses performance of non-attainment cities in reducing particulate matter (PM_{10} and PM_{2.5}) through solid actions on road dust, vehicular emissions, biomass burning, and industrial stacks.
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Category 1 (Million-Plus Cities / >10 Lakh):
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Agra: Secured 3rd rank nationally (Score: 196 / 200 marks, cash reward of ₹25 lakh, joint 3rd with Surat).
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Kanpur: Ranked 5th nationally.
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Prayagraj: Ranked 7th nationally.
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Varanasi: Ranked 11th nationally.
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Ghaziabad: Ranked 12th nationally.
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Lucknow: Ranked 15th nationally.
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Category 2 (3 to 10 Lakh Population):
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Jhansi & Moradabad: Joint 2nd rank nationally (Score: 198.5 / 200 marks, cash reward of ₹25 lakh each).
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Gorakhpur: Ranked 5th nationally.
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Firozabad: Ranked 5th nationally.
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Bareilly: Ranked 7th nationally.
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Category 3 (<3 Lakh Population):
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Anpara (Sonbhadra): Ranked 5th nationally.
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Rae Bareli: Ranked 7th nationally.
3. Critical Analytical Distinction: Sanitation vs Air Quality Surveys
| Dimension | Swachh Survekshan | Swachh Vayu Survekshan |
|---|---|---|
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) | Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) |
| Core Framework | Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM-U 2.0) | National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) |
| Primary Metrics | Door-to-door collection, legacy waste remediation, 7-Star GFC, ODF++/Water+ | PM_{10}/PM_{2.5} reduction, mechanical sweeping, EV adoption, green buffers |
| UP Star Cities | Lucknow (3rd overall, 7-Star GFC), Prayagraj (Ganga City) | Agra (3rd in Cat-1), Jhansi & Moradabad (2nd in Cat-2) |
Key Examination Takeaways:
- Lucknow ranked 3rd nationally in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 (12,001/12,500) and became the first city in UP to win a 7-Star GFC rating.
- Prayagraj was crowned the Cleanest Ganga City (>1 lakh population) and conferred the prestigious Swachh Maha Kumbh Award.
- In Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025, Agra ranked 3rd nationally in Category-1, while Jhansi and Moradabad tied for 2nd in Category-2.
- Swachh Survekshan evaluates solid waste under MoHUA, whereas Swachh Vayu Survekshan assesses particulate reduction under MoEFCC.