Why in NEWS?
The President of India presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024–25 (9th edition) in New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the awards recognize top-performing cities in urban sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U).
Key Terms & Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Swachh Survekshan | Annual cleanliness survey of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) under SBM-Urban. |
| SBM-Urban | Flagship mission for urban sanitation, launched in 2014 by MoHUA. |
| Super Swachh League (SSL) | New category for consistently top-ranked cities like Indore, excluded from main rankings to promote fairness. |
| ODF & ODF+ | Open Defecation Free statuses under SBM marking sanitation achievements. |
| 3R Theme | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – 2025 theme aligned with circular economy principles. |
Swachh Survekshan 2024–25: Key Highlights
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New Categories | Cities now classified into 5 population-based categories for equitable ranking. |
| SSL Cities | Indore & other consistent toppers moved to a new league to encourage other cities. |
| Special Awards | Prayagraj (Cleanest Ganga Town & Swachh Mahakumbh), Visakhapatnam & Gorakhpur (Sanitation Worker Safety), Secunderabad Cantonment (Cleanest Board) |
| Top “Promising Cities” | 35 cities including Rajahmundry, Guwahati, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Pimpri Chinchwad. |
Swachh Survekshan: Evolution & Features
| Indicator | Details |
|---|---|
| Started | 2016 with 73 cities |
| Coverage in 2025 | 4,589 ULBs |
| 9th Edition Duration | April 2024 – March 2025 |
| Evaluation Criteria | Waste segregation, treatment, cleanliness of public spaces, citizen feedback |
| 2025 Theme | “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)” |
Focus Areas in 2025 Edition
| Focus | New Additions |
|---|---|
| Tourism & Public Spaces | Sanitation at high-footfall zones prioritized |
| School-level Assessments | Promote Swachhta values among students |
| City Transport Unit (CTU) | Transformation now included in scoring |
| Simplified Indicators | Restructured into 10 sections for clarity |
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Overview
| Component | SBM-Gramin | SBM-Urban |
|---|---|---|
| Launched | 2014 (MoJS) | 2014 (MoHUA) |
| Phase II | ODF+ by 2024–25 through solid & liquid waste management | Urban 2.0 in 2021 for garbage-free cities |
| Funding | Swachh Bharat Kosh (CSR & philanthropy) |
Visual Aid: City Categorization (2025)
< 20,000 → Very Small Cities
20,000–50,000 → Small Cities
50,000–3 lakh → Medium Cities
3–10 lakh → Big Cities
> 10 lakh → Million Plus Cities
In a Nutshell
Mnemonic: “CLEAN STAR”
City-wise ranking
League system (SSL)
Evaluation over 1 year
Awards for innovation
National coverage
Special themes (3R)
Tourist focus
Awareness via schools
Real-time reporting
Prelims Questions
- Which of the following cities received the ‘Cleanest Ganga Town’ award in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25?
A) Varanasi
B) Haridwar
C) Patna
D) Prayagraj - What is the 2025 theme of Swachh Survekshan Awards?
A) Sanitation for All
B) ODF India
C) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
D) Clean India Mission - Which of the following categories were used to classify cities in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25?
A) Income-based
B) Political status
C) Population size
D) Industrial zones
Mains Questions
- Swachh Survekshan has evolved into a performance benchmarking tool for urban sanitation. Critically examine its impact on municipal governance.
- Discuss how citizen participation and innovative categorization in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 can enhance competitive federalism in India. (GS2/GS3)
Prelims Answer Key
| Qn | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | Prayagraj was awarded Cleanest Ganga Town |
| 2 | C | 2025 theme was “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R)” |
| 3 | C | Cities were ranked in 5 categories based on population |
