Top 10 Cleanest Cities in India 2026: List of India’s Cleanest City

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:

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 1^st 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 4^th 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 having a proper urban planning. The city also has good waste management and cleaning routine of homes and the streets. Hygiene standards are maintained by strong municipal control and awareness of the citizens. The regular practice in Chandigarh guarantees a clean, neat and healthy environment to live.

Note: These rankings reflect efforts in waste segregation, regular street sweeping, innovative technologies, citizen participation, and sanitation education. If you are a true Indian then you have the responsibilities to make your city clean by following the rules and regulations.

How Has Indore Stayed India’s Cleanest City?

Indore has been declared as the cleanest city in India in the Swachh Survekshan survey in the eighth consecutive year. The reason has to be the strong local governance, disciplined waste management habits, and great sense of community contribution.

The municipal corporation in the city has also adopted the door-to-door garbage pickup system, good segregation of waste materials and emphasis on creating awareness among the citizens through campaigns and competitions that will bring the citizens on board with the cleaning program. 

The model used at Indore shows that regular policy on the part of the government and involvement of residents is essential to continuing sanitary attempts in cities experiencing increased growth and industrialization.

It further demonstrates that detailing, which involves neighbourhood cleanliness to management of public toilets are important factors in gaining number 1 positions.

What Are the Criteria Behind the Cleanest Cities in India Rankings?

India cleanest city rankings of cities are rated on a number of quantifiable measures:

• Waste Collection and Segregation: collection and separate wet/dry waste on a daily basis.
• Sanitation Infrastructure: Public toilets, sewage, quality of the water supply, and treatment of the waste water.
• Open Defecation Control: Implementation of policies and maintenance of the open spaces.
• Innovation and Sustainability: Green practices, recycling, smart trash cans, and environmental-friendly practices. 

All these factors imply a comprehensive attitude to cleanliness of a city, not only apparent cleanliness, but organizational sanitary efficiency.

Beyond Rankings: Clean Cities and Citizen Well-Being

Clean cities do not only enhance aesthetics, but also create a healthier environment, less disease outbreak, and a better living environment. A healthy city is characterized by clean streets, good management of waste, and well-kept open spaces in the community. Even cities with a consistent high ranking in cleanliness also enjoy;

• Reduced pollution and disease risks
• Improved business and tourist appeal to the economy
• Stiffer civic pride and community involvement
• Greenery and recycling; better environmental sustainability

The citizens and the local governments have a role to play in ensuring these high standards are upheld and closing of loopholes including water security, solid waste management and equal access to sanitation.

Conclusion

The ranking of cleanest city in India is indicative of the national initiative to improve urban cleanliness, waste management, and citizen involvement in ensuring urban cleanliness. Cities such as Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai are top in the 10 cleanest cities in India list due to their regular contribution, new ideas, and positive involvement of the citizens.

With the vision of cleanest city in India 2026, the cities have been increasing the sanitation campaigns to enhance infrastructure and awareness to the communities. Although cleanliness rankings are not only stunning evidence of improvement, they also teach us that safe water, well-functioning waste systems, and long-term citizens engagement are the main characteristics of urban health.

A clean city is not only aesthetically clean but a vibrant healthy environment where people can live, work and grow with pride. Through joint efforts and creativity, the cities in India can keep on establishing new benchmarks of cleanliness, sustainability and inclusive cities.

FAQs