Uttar Pradesh Cleanliness Triumph: Tops Swachh Survekshan 2024–25!

In a landmark achievement, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the cleanest state in India under the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey conducted annually by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. The announcement was made at the national award ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, and the honours were conferred by President Droupadi Murmu.

This recognition marks a remarkable turnaround for a state that, just a few years ago, faced significant challenges in sanitation, waste management, and environmental upkeep. Through focused leadership, citizen participation, and sustainable practices, Uttar Pradesh has rewritten its narrative.

Key Drivers Behind UP’s Achievement:

1. The number of Garbage Free Cities in UP surged from 65 in SS‑2023 to 83 in SS‑2024.

2. For the first time, UP had one city with a 7‑star GFC rating (Lucknow), and six cities (Agra, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Noida) achieved 5‑star status.

3. The state boosted its ODF++ certified cities from 129 to 337, and improved Water+ certification coverage from 2 cities to 16, reflecting advances in both sludge and wastewater management.

4. Since 2017, UP has planted over 210 crore saplings, achieving survival rates over 86%—up to 96% in 2024–25. Green cover has expanded by ~5 lakh acres, making UP the second‑largest state in India (by green cover growth.

Uttar Pradesh’s recognition as the cleanest state in India reflects a broad-based, multi-sectoral transformation—from improved sanitation and waste systems to greener urban planning, citizen-driven initiatives, and sustainable energy adoption. It showcases a model of scalable, replicable urban governance rooted in public participation and data‑driven administration.