Until 2017, India was divided into five zones for the purpose of this survey and each city was scored on 19 indicators. The cities were classified into four colours: green, blue, black, and red, green being the cleanest city, and red the most polluted. None of the cities was rated as green—the best category in the exercise. However, during the 2017-18 senses survey, the parameters of assessment were modified, and cities were categorised, based on population, into metropolis, large, medium, and small cities, and assessment took place according to this categorisation.[1]
The latest ranking of 2023 by the cleanliness survey Swachh Survekshan marks Indore as the cleanest city of India. Indore has held the title of being India's cleanest city for seven consecutive years.[2]
The results of the fifth edition of the nationwide annual cleanliness survey, 'Swachh Survekshan 2020,' are out and Madhya Pradesh's Indore has yet again made it as India's cleanest city. Gujarat's Surat emerged as India's second cleanest city, followed by Navi Mumbai which bagged the third spot in Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs' swachhta city survey report.[6][7][8]
Swachh Survekshan 2020 covered 4,242 cities, 62 cantonment boards and 92 Ganga towns. This survey was carried out in 28 days.[9]
List of Cleanest Cities in India 2020, are as follows:
The dimensions of assessment increased during the 2017–18 survey, identifying cities and states to excel in different aspects of environment, energy, and cleanliness.
The Union Ministry of Urban Development commissioned an extensive survey to study the progress of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi'sSwachh Bharat Mission and to rank 73 cities on sanitation and cleanliness. The survey, the first for the Swachh Bharat Mission, was conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI) and was named Swachh Sarvekshan. It covered all state capitals and another 53 cities with a population of above one million. It involved three streams of data collection - interaction with municipal body, direct observation and citizen feedback. Swachh Sarvekshan evaluated the work done in the following six measurable aspects of sanitation and hygiene:
• Strategy for Open Defecation Free town (ODF) and Integrated Solid Waste Management (SWM)
• Information, Education and Behaviour Change Communication (IEBC) activity
• Sweeping, door to door collection and transportation (of solid waste)
• Processing and disposal (of solid waste)
• Provision of public & community toilet seats
• Construction of household individual toilets
Swachh Sarvekshan 2016 was conducted between 5 January 2016 and 20 January 2016.[13] The Results, as per the latest available sources, are as follows:
