Cleanliness Survey 2026: Navi Mumbai Tops, Ujjain Leads 3–10 Lakh Population Category

The news

Navi Mumbai has been ranked the cleanest city in the central government's annual cleanliness survey for 2026, with Surat and Vijayawada finishing as runners-up. The results, announced on November 11, 2026, mark a significant shift as Indore, which had held the top spot for the past eight years, did not figure among the toppers this year. President Droupadi Murmu presented the awards at an event in New Delhi.

In the 3-10 lakh population category, Ujjain emerged as the cleanest city, followed by Chandigarh and Guntur. Among cities with a population of 10 lakh and above, Greater Visakhapatnam topped the list, with Jabalpur and Lucknow in second and third places. The survey, conducted by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, also recognised towns in specific geographical categories: Madhya Pradesh's Rewa secured the first position among cleanest riverfront towns, followed by Bilaspur and Varanasi; Puri bagged the top spot in the Swachh Coastal Town category, ahead of Kerala's Alappuzha and Maharashtra's Ratnagiri; and Rudrapur was named the cleanest Himalayan city, with Jammu in second place.

What is the Swachh Survekshan cleanliness survey?

Swachh Survekshan is the Government of India's annual cleanliness survey of cities and towns conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It was launched in 2016 as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) to assess the sanitation and waste management performance of urban local bodies. The survey ranks cities based on service-level progress, citizen feedback, and direct observation of cleanliness in public and residential areas. The concept of a competitive cleanliness ranking was inspired by the earlier 'Swachh City' initiative and aimed to foster a spirit of healthy competition among cities to improve urban sanitation.

How are the cleanliness rankings structured?

The annual cleanliness survey, conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, ranks urban areas across multiple categories to allow comparison among cities of similar size and geography. Separate lists are prepared for overall rankings, population-based categories (3-10 lakh and 10 lakh-plus), and special categories such as riverfront towns, coastal towns and Himalayan cities. This structure helps urban local bodies identify sanitation practices suited to their specific context, though a high ranking does not necessarily mean every sanitation problem in a city has been resolved.

What does the 2026 result indicate?

The 2026 results show a notable change in the top order, with Navi Mumbai, Surat and Vijayawada leading overall, while Indore's eight-year streak ended. Category-wise winners—Ujjain, Greater Visakhapatnam, Rewa, Puri and Rudrapur—highlight that cleanliness performance varies by population size and geography. For urban local bodies, the rankings offer a benchmark to assess waste collection, segregation and disposal practices, and to learn from peers in similar categories. However, sustained cleanliness depends on continuous public participation and robust municipal systems, not just annual rankings.