India’s fast-paced urban growth has created new opportunities but also created some challenges in cleanliness, Green and sustainable waste management, and urban public health. The Government of India is conducting an annual cleanliness survey called Swachh Survekshan to encourage better civic sense and improve sanitation across the country. This survey ranks cities based on various cleanliness and hygiene parameters. As result of the competitive nature of citizens and also because of increasing awareness, several cities are now setting standards for cleanliness, environmental responsibility, and active participation of community. This blog lists the cleanest city in India as per updated cleanliness index, highlighting the top 10 cleanest cities in India, and studies what India’s clean cities talks about urban governance and citizen behaviour. What Is Swachh Survekshan and How Are Cities Ranked? The Swachh Survekshan is the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The survey tests more than 4500 cities across 50+ indicators including solid waste management, sanitation infrastructure, public feedback, control of open defecation, and cleanliness innovations. The ranking is done on basis of aggregated score and categorized by population size to maintain fairness among small and large urban areas. The result is a cleanest city in India list that reflects performance across a wide spectrum of civic services.  List of Top 10 Cleanest Cities in India Here is a list of India’s Cleanest Cities in 2026 as per the Swachh Survekshan Reports: Rank City State 1 Indore Madhya Pradesh 2 Surat Gujarat 3 Navi Mumbai Maharashtra 4 Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh 5 Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh 6 Bhopal Madhya Pradesh 7 Ahmedabad Gujarat 8 Rajkot Gujarat 9 Gandhinagar Gujarat 10 Chandigarh Chandigarh According to the latest Swachh Survekshan results from the 2024–25 survey, several cities have distinguished themselves through sustained cleanliness efforts, innovative waste solutions, and active civic engagement. Below is a top 10 cleanest city in India based on national rankings: 1. Indore, Madhya Pradesh Indore continues to rank 1st as India’s cleanest city, and it’s holding this top position for 8 years in a row now. This all can be possible only because of its effective waste management systems, open defecation control, and community-driven cleanliness programs. Continuous monitoring, use of technology, and citizen involvement have strengthened hygiene practices. 2. Surat, Gujarat Surat is famous in its cleanliness and effective waste management schemes and programs, making it a blueprint for urban hygiene in India. There has also been enhancement of standards of hygiene by the involvement of the people and the integration of technology. The strict governance of Surat has helped it in having a clean and strong urban environment. 3. Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra As the city with a good organizational urban space and active civic policies, Navi Mumbai is one of the cleanest cities in India and it can also be seen as the city planned well and engaged in the activities of the community keeping the hygiene. Municipal control and collaboration with citizens make it a clean atmosphere. The intended development of Navi Mumbai helps in maintaining the cleanliness of the place. Navi Mumbai is also one of the best cities to live in India due to Job opportunities, Good Educational Institutes, Quality Healthcare Facilities etc. 4. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh Visakhapatnam is at 4th position among the list of cleanest cities in India, making an emphasis on the cleanliness in the parks and streets, and in other places of community use. These efforts are facilitated by strong civic participation. The emphasis in hygiene and planned city maintenance has rendered Visakhapatnam one of the cleanest cities in India. 5. Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Vijayawada is known to have an effective door-to-door waste collection network and high urban cleanliness rates and effectiveness in terms of managing waste within household. The efforts of Vijayawada to keep the city clean help in making the city a place that is healthier and more pleasing. 6. Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Bhopal is known to have developed sanitation facilities with the modernized infrastructure, which has initiated the process of modernizing the sanitation facilities, enhancing the general cleanliness level and health of people. The emphasis that the city of Bhopal has on the issue of urban cleanliness and green spaces makes it a cleaner city in India. This city, also known as the “City of Lakes”, is the capital of Madhya Pradesh. It is among India’s cleanest cities due to its well-maintained roads, effective waste management systems, and strong focus on cleanliness and sustainability. 7. Ahmedabad, Gujarat Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is among the cleanest cities in India in 2026 as a result of its cleanliness initiatives which are planned and consistent. The city government has paid attention to effective waste management, frequent sanitation campaigns, and high levels of involvement of people. Swachh Bharat programs have been successfully put in place making the streets and other open places cleaner. The determination of Ahmedabad towards sustainability and civility has been important in ensuring that high levels of cleanliness are observed. 8. Rajkot, Gujarat Rajkot, Gujarat, has also recorded an impressive increase in the level of civic cleanliness due to better municipal work and the efforts of the community population. The city has enhanced its waste segregation, door to door collection and sanitation facilities. Citizen cooperation and awareness campaigns have also helped in making the public areas clean. The consistent development of Rajkot explains its increasing efforts to preserve the stable urban condition that is hygienic and sustainable. 9. Gandhinagar, Gujarat Gandhinagar, Gujarat, is known to have clean streets, and a great sense of greenery and urban development planning. The city still has effective waste management systems as well as maintainable roads and areas. Large amount of green cover and landscape helps in a healthy environment. The civic planning and cleanliness that is well organized in Gandhinagar also makes it one of the cleanest cities in India. 10. Chandigarh Chandigarh is unique in its own way of having a strict and serious cleaning schedule which was assisted by...