Cleanest Cities in India 2025: How These 10 Urban Giants Are Leading India’s Hygiene Revolution
In a country where urban growth often challenges sanitation standards, a few cities have stood out in 2025 by turning hygiene into a civic movement. The cleanest cities in India 2025 are not just winning awards but redefining what cleanliness means in an Indian context — a blend of smart governance, citizen participation, sustainable planning, and innovation.
The Swachh Survekshan 2025, India’s annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has released the list of top-ranking cities. Here is an in-depth look at the top 10 cleanest cities in India this year, and how they got there.
1. Indore – 1st Place for the 8th Time in a Row
Indore’s dominance continues as it retains its number-one rank for the eighth consecutive year. The city’s success lies in its integrated waste collection system, complete source segregation, and 100% door-to-door garbage pickup.
What sets Indore apart:
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Bio-methanation plants converting waste to energy
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Active participation from NGOs and RWAs
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Use of AI in monitoring garbage trucks and waste processing
Citizens here take immense pride in their role, often participating in street cleaning drives, awareness campaigns, and adopting zero-waste lifestyles.
2. Surat – Innovation in Waste Technology
Coming in second, Surat has made tremendous progress in waste segregation and plastic recycling. The city is known for using GPS tracking for garbage collection and installing underground bins connected to vacuum-based collection systems.
Highlights of Surat’s cleanliness drive:
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Scientific landfill management
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Water-sensitive urban planning
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Community education on recycling and sanitation
Surat’s textile and diamond industries, once considered polluters, are now co-participants in the city’s sanitation mission.
3. Navi Mumbai – Green Spaces and Urban Discipline
Navi Mumbai’s meticulous planning and lush greenery have played a huge role in securing third place among the cleanest cities in India 2025. The city maintains a robust waste management system, with an emphasis on composting and minimal landfill use.
Key factors behind its rank:
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More than 200 public composting units
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Digitally managed solid waste tracking
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Strict enforcement of littering fines
The city’s emphasis on public discipline and awareness has made it a model for other planned urban centers.
4. Visakhapatnam – Coastal City with a Clean Vision
Popularly known as Vizag, this port city in Andhra Pradesh has rapidly transformed its public image. Visakhapatnam’s fourth rank is the result of citizen-led coastal cleanup drives, upgraded sewage treatment infrastructure, and organized waste disposal.
What helped Visakhapatnam stand out:
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Clean beaches and waterfront areas
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Smart bins and automated road sweepers
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Eco-clubs in schools driving awareness
The integration of sustainability into urban design has made Vizag a clean and beautiful city.
5. Vijayawada – From Traffic to Transformation
Once choked by traffic and pollution, Vijayawada has reinvented itself through bold civic reforms. Its fifth position is a result of rigorous waste audits, community involvement, and policy transparency.
Key reforms in Vijayawada:
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Free biodegradable dustbins for every household
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GPS monitoring of sanitation staff
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Partnerships with NGOs for slum sanitation
The city also runs one of the most successful e-waste collection programs in southern India.
6. Bhopal – The Smart Clean City
The capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, secures sixth place with a clear focus on smart city solutions. It has invested heavily in IoT-enabled public toilets, waste-to-energy facilities, and green public transport.
Why Bhopal made it:
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Mobile apps for citizen grievances
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24/7 helpline for sanitation issues
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Rainwater harvesting in all public parks
Bhopal blends technology with tradition, offering a replicable model for mid-sized Indian cities.
7. Tirupati – A Sacred City’s Sacred Cleanliness
Home to one of the most visited temples in the world, Tirupati is now also one of the cleanest cities in India 2025. Temple authorities, local municipalities, and pilgrims work together to keep the city clean.
Initiatives that boosted Tirupati’s cleanliness:
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Daily disinfection of temple roads and public areas
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Biodegradable offerings at temples
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Strict ban on plastic in religious zones
Spirituality and sustainability go hand-in-hand in Tirupati’s success story.
8. Mysore – Heritage Meets Hygiene
Mysore has always been regarded as a clean city, and in 2025, it reaffirms its position at eighth place. The city’s focus on preserving its historical charm while implementing modern sanitation practices has worked in its favor.
Why Mysore remains a top clean city:
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Beautified public toilets themed around heritage
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Public education through traditional art and storytelling
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Sustainable tourism guidelines for clean travel
The city’s streets remain spotless due to round-the-clock cleaning shifts and active citizen forums.
9. New Delhi – National Capital, New Attitude
In a remarkable turnaround, New Delhi finds itself in the top 10 this year. The national capital has improved thanks to decentralization of sanitation responsibilities, higher budget allocation, and air quality integration in urban planning.
Improvements seen in New Delhi:
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Clean-up of Yamuna banks
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Segregated waste collection in 95% of colonies
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Collaboration between RWAs and MCD
Political will and judicial intervention have also accelerated progress in the capital’s urban hygiene.
10. Ambikapur – The Surprise Champion from Chhattisgarh
A relatively smaller city, Ambikapur’s entry into the cleanest cities in India 2025 list has surprised many. With an innovative garbage café where waste collectors are given food in exchange for plastic waste, this town has become a national case study.
What makes Ambikapur exceptional:
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100% door-to-door collection
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Plastic-free zones across major markets
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Complete community-led sanitation model
Ambikapur’s grassroots movement shows that size doesn’t matter — commitment does.
The Road Ahead: Cleanliness as a Cultural Shift
These top 10 cleanest cities in India 2025 reflect a broader shift in India’s urban consciousness. Cleanliness is no longer a government agenda alone — it is a shared responsibility between authorities, industries, and citizens.
While tier-1 cities are investing in tech and infrastructure, smaller towns are showing the power of community-driven change. With over 4000 cities competing in the Swachh Survekshan, India is slowly but surely walking toward a cleaner, greener future.
FAQs
Q1: What is the cleanest city in India in 2025?
A1: Indore has been ranked as the cleanest city in India for the eighth consecutive year in 2025.
Q2: How are cities ranked for cleanliness?
A2: The rankings are based on criteria like waste management, citizen feedback, air and water quality, and innovation in sanitation under the Swachh Survekshan.
Q3: Which small city surprised everyone this year?
A3: Ambikapur from Chhattisgarh impressed with its community-driven sanitation model and innovative programs.
Q4: Is Delhi finally improving in terms of cleanliness?
A4: Yes, New Delhi has entered the top 10 for the first time in years due to significant reforms in waste management and air quality measures.
Q5: What role do citizens play in keeping a city clean?
A5: Citizen participation is key — from daily segregation to public awareness drives, their involvement determines long-term success.
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