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Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Why Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards is a must-read for your UPSC exam
Take a look at the essential concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget on Swachh Survekshan awards and Swachh Bharat Mission for today. (Relevance: Since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the UPSC has included questions on this topic in both the Prelims and Mains examinations. In 2016, a Mains question was asked on 'How could social influence and persuasion contribute to the success of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan?' In this regard, it is an important topic for your Prelims and Mains preparation.) Ahmedabad was named the cleanest big city in the country in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 awards, followed by Bhopal and Lucknow. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Ahmedabad for being the top city among those with a population of 10 lakh or above during the awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhagwan, New Delhi. The awards, instituted under the Swachh Bharat Mission under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, were started in 2016 with 73 cities. This year, 4,589 cities were covered in the survey that was held from April 2024 to March 2025. 1. The goal of this survey is to encourage citizen participation and create awareness among all sections of society about the importance of working together in creating clean cities and towns to reside in. It is conducted under the ambit of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban). 2. The 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS) awards, which was announced by the President, has a revamped format. With Indore winning the tag of cleanest city for seven years in a row, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said last year that the next round of the Swachhata rankings will have a separate category for cities that have been ranked number one in the past, leaving the general competition open for new winners. 3. To address it, in this 9th edition of SS, a special category – Super Swachh League has been introduced, creating a separate league of cities excelling in cleanliness. This category recognises the cities that had been in the top three of their categories in the previous three years. 4. This new category, Super Swachh League Cities, included the previous winners Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai. Last year, Indore and Surat were jointly recognised as the cleanest cities, with Indore maintaining its top position for the seventh consecutive time. 5. It also said that for the first time ever, cities were classified into five population-based categories: (i) Very Small Cities (< 20,000 population) (ii) Small Cities (20,000 – 50,000 population) (iii) Medium Cities (50,000 – 3 Lakh population) (iv) Big Cities (3 – 10 Lakh population) (v) Million Plus Cities ( > 10 Lakh population) 5. Also, the Indicators have been simplified and structured into ten comprehensive sections, which cover the entire spectrum of urban sanitation and cleanliness. To maintain sanitation standards in key public spaces, a special emphasis has been placed on tourist destinations and high-footfall areas. 6. With the theme of 'Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R), the focus is on minimising wastage by using minimum resources and re-using them for the same purpose or other purposes. It also aligns with the Jaipur declaration, which was unanimously adopted at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific in March this year. 7. The awards were presented across four categories: Super Swachh League Cities, the top three clean cities in five population categories, Special category, and State-level awards – Promising clean city of the state/UT. In the special category: ↪ The Cleanest Ganga Town Award was given to Prayagraj. ↪ The Cleanest Cantonment Board Award was given to Secunderabad Cantt. ↪ The Safaimitra Surakshit Shehar Awards were given to Gvmc Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, And Gorakhpur. ↪ A special mention was given in recognition of the special initiative of Swachh Mahakumbh 2025. Madhya Pradesh: Indore Gujarat: Surat Andhra Pradesh: Vijayawada Karnataka: Mysore Gujarat: Gandhinagar Madhya Pradesh: Ujjain Uttar Pradesh: Noida Union Territory: Chandigarh Chhattisgarh: Ambikapur Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council Maharashtra: Lonavala Pravara Rajasthan: Dungarpur Maharashtra: Panchgani, Panhala Madhya Pradesh: Bundi (Source: Swachh Survekshan 2024-25) 1. Last year, Swachh Bharat Mission completed its 10 years on 2nd October. This was one of the first programmes announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he took office in 2014. 2. The mission was divided into SBM-Gramin for villages, and SBM-Urban for cities, executed by the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs respectively. Along with this, Swachh Bharat Kosh (fund) was also launched 'to facilitate channelisation of philanthropic contributions and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds' towards this cause. 3. SBM's focus areas were building individual toilets, community toilets, solid waste management, and leading awareness campaigns aimed at behavioural changes. 4. The PM announced that the SBM's main goal was to make India 'Open defecation-free' (ODF) by October 2, 2019, for which crores of household and community toilets had to be constructed. According to the ministry, 'A city/ ward can be notified/ declared as an ODF city/ ODF ward if, at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating in the open.' 5. In 2021, after the mission completed five years, the government launched SBM- Urban 2.0, with a focus on garbage-free cities, faecal sludge, plastic waste, capacity building, and greywater management. 6. Having achieved the ODF status, the government launched the phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, w.e.f. 2020-21. According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the objective of SBM-G phase II is 'to achieve Sampoorn Swachhata, i.e., sustaining the ODF status and managing solid and liquid waste by 2024-25 and transforming all the villages from ODF to ODF Plus Mode.' Consider the following statements: 1. For the past 7 years, Indore has been ranked first in the Super Swachh League of cities. 2. The 9th edition of Swachh Survekshan (SS) awards classified cities into five population-based categories. 3. The Cleanest Cantonment Board Award was given to Secunderabad Cantt. How many of the above statements is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Source: Ahmedabad declared cleanest city in India in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 as Indore moves to 'super league', Top cleanest cities in India: Indore featured for the 7th time — see the full list, Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Khushboo Kumari is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She has done her graduation and post-graduation in History from the University of Delhi. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. She holds experience in UPSC-related content development. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Hans India
4 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Rajamahendravaram bags 19th national rank
Rajamahendravaram: The Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation (RMC) has secured the 19th rank at the national level and 2nd rank in Andhra Pradesh under the category of cities with a population between 3 to 10 lakh in the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 Awards. The award was presented by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday. East Godavari district collector and Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation Commissioner (Full Additional Charge) Dr P Prasanthi received the award on behalf of the city. RMC Additional Commissioner PV Ramalingeswar, MHO Vinutna also accompanied. Speaking to 'The Hans India' on the occasion, Dr Prasanthi termed the recognition a major milestone in the city's urban development journey. She attributed the achievement to innovative sanitation initiatives, the adoption of smart technology, efficient door-to-door garbage collection, recycling efforts, and the active participation of sanitation workers and citizens. She noted that Rajamahendravaram has around 1,12,780 households generating approximately 160 tonnes of waste daily. The city has been processing wet waste into organic compost. Over 1,400 sanitation workers and a fleet of 182 vehicles are engaged in a streamlined door-to-door waste collection system, she added. Prasanthi expressed hope that with continued public cooperation, the city would achieve even better rankings in the future. She noted that Rajamahendravaram had previously ranked 54th, and the leap to 19th reflects significant progress in urban cleanliness and citizen involvement.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Hyderabad sixth cleanest city, bags 7-star garbage-free tag
HYDERABAD: The city has made significant strides in cleanliness, climbing from ninth to sixth place among 44 cities with a population of over a million in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings, released under the . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The city also earned the prestigious 7-star garbage-free certification. At the national level, Hyderabad ranks just behind Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Lucknow, Raipur, and Jabalpur, marking its best-ever performance since the formation of Telangana. In previous years, the city's ranking hovered between 26 and 35, making this a significant leap forward. According to the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA), Hyderabad scored 11,805 out of 12,500 points across three key areas — Swachh Survekshan assessment (phases I-IV), ODF (Open Defecation Free) and water plus status, and star rating for garbage-free cities. The city was also recognised as the 'Promising Swachh Shehar of the state'. A few months ago, the GHMC applied for the 7-star garbage-free city certification and water plus recertification as part of its push to boost rankings in this year's Swachh Survekshan. Speaking at the award ceremony on Thursday, where Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar presented the recognition, GHMC commissioner RV Karnan said, 'In the coming days, we will focus on strengthening door-to-door collection. This achievement is the result of consistent efforts by citizens and staff. We have progressed from last year's 5-star rating and 9th rank to 7-star and 6th place — a sign of improvement.' SCB recognised cleanest among 58 cantonments The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) has been recognised as the cleanest among 58 cantonments in the country for its efforts in solid waste management and the implementation of innovative best practices under Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The SCB secured 11th position in medium cities category (50,0003 lakh population) at the national level, and ranked second within the state after Greater Hyderabad. Additionally, it received a three-star certification for being a garbage-free city and earned water++ status in the ODF classification. Under solid waste management, SCB initiated doorto-door garbage collection in all wards with 95 GPS-enabled garbage collection vehicles for daily monitoring and tracking of waste collection. As part of Swachh Survekshan, the board revived Ramannakunta Lake through desilting, garbage removal, and inlet purification and planted over 15,000 saplings in the past two years across public spaces, parks, lake fronts, and school campuses. Officials said the award highlights dedication to building a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment for its residents and sanitation workforce alike.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Prayagraj crowned Cleanest Ganga Town
1 2 3 Prayagraj: The Sangam City has earned special recognition as the Cleanest Ganga Town, securing first place in the country after defeating Varanasi in this important category for its outstanding performance in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 survey. Prayagraj has made a significant jump in the Swachh Survekshan rankings, securing the 12th position in the all-India ranking for 2024-25, up from 71st position in 2023-24. Prayagraj has indeed made significant strides in waste management, earning a 5-star rating in the Garbage Free City category. Varanasi slipped to second position in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings, having held the top spot in 2023-24 as the cleanest Ganga town. The honour was formally bestowed upon Prayagraj mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Keserwani by Union urban development minister Manohar Lal Khattar at a grand ceremony held in New Delhi. The award was given in recognition of Prayagraj's exceptional sanitation efforts in the Ganga Town region and the enormous success of the world's largest religious event, the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. This accolade highlights Prayagraj's rising stature as a model of cleanliness and sanitation on both a national and international stage. Mayor Keserwani dedicated the honour to the people of Prayagraj, saying, "This award is a tribute to the relentless hardwork and dedication of Prayagraj's citizens, whose efforts have propelled the city to the pinnacle of cleanliness." He also credited the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in driving the Swachh Bharat mission, noting that Prayagraj emerged as a shining example by turning this vision into reality. The event was also attended by several dignitaries, including Uttar Pradesh's urban development minister AK Sharma, special secretary of the urban development department Anuj Jha, Prayagraj municipal commissioner Seelam Sai Teja, and additional municipal commissioner Deependra Yadav. The delegation from Prayagraj included prominent figures such as Girijesh Mishra, Pramod Jaiswal Modi, Rajan Shukla, Shyam Prakash Pandey, Abhishek Singh, and Rishi Yadav. Following the award ceremony, councillors, officers, staff, and sanitation workers of the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation congratulated the residents of Prayagraj for this prestigious achievement, celebrating the city's commitment to maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. Uttar Pradesh's cities performed impressively in the overall Swachh Survekshan 2024/25 rankings. Among the Million Plus Cities category, Lucknow Municipal Corporation secured the third place nationally with a score of 12,001. Agra stood at 10th place with 11,532 points, Ghaziabad at 11th slot with 11,514 points and Prayagraj at 12th with a commendable total score of 11,292.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre to roll out special programme for remediation of 44% of legacy waste within a year
File photo NEW DELHI: With less than a year remaining to meet its target of zero dumpsites, the Union govt will roll out a special programme on August 15 for the remediation of 44% of legacy waste in urban areas within a year. The Centre will also provide incentive to states and cities to set up more solid waste treatment plants. Speaking at an event on Swachh Survekshan, housing and urban affairs minister Manohar Lal Khattar said remediation of legacy waste in big cities is a huge challenge. 'We will roll out a special Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme for one year starting Aug 15. The focus will be on reducing the legacy waste and increasing the waste processing capacity. There will be incentive for setting up solid waste treatment plants under this programme,' he said. Sources said the details of the scheme are being worked out, with the ministry receiving feedback from state urban development ministers on Thursday. At the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 in 2021, the govt had set a target of making cities free of all legacy landfills by 2026. Around 50% of land under legacy dumpsites has been freed so far, Khattar said.
