And the award for India's Cleanest State in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 goes to….
The ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu where Uttar Pradesh outshone other states in terms of cleanliness, sanitation, and urban hygiene.
In addition to this, Uttar Pradesh's capital, Lucknow was ranked third as the cleanest city in India (populations over 1 million). The number one spot was taken by Indore followed by Surat. Lucknow also received the rare honour of being certified as a 7-Star Garbage Free City This is a great award which shows the city's excellence in solid waste management and cleanliness standards.
Besides Lucknow, Prayagraj was awarded with the prestigious title of the 'Cleanest Ganga City', a title that shows the city's efforts in keeping the river pollution-free.
Gorakhpur, on the other hand, also earned a 5-Star Garbage Free City certification and was awarded as a Safaimitra Surakshit Sheher, acknowledging the safety. Agra, home to the white marble beauty the Taj Mahal, was also on the list of the top 30 cleanest cities in India.
It also got the title of the 'Emerging Clean City of Uttar Pradesh'.
The state's smaller cities also shocked the country. Moradabad ranked 10th in the category of cities with a population between 3–10 lakh and Bijnor secured 29th place in the 'Cleanest Ganga Towns' list.
This remarkable performance highlights the strides Uttar Pradesh has taken in urban sanitation, public awareness, and waste management. For tourists, this not only assures cleaner surroundings but also enhances the overall experience when visiting cultural hotspots like Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra, and Prayagraj.
As India moves towards its vision of a garbage-free future, pollution free and cleaner and greener, Uttar Pradesh's tremendous achievements serve as an inspiring example of how large states can lead by example in creating cleaner, beautiful and healthier cities.
These accolades only show Uttar Pradesh's dedication towards keeping the state clean and beautiful and attracting more travellers from across the world.
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