India has come a long way in improving its urban sanitation, waste management, and air quality. Thanks to national initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Swachh Survekshan, many cities are now setting high standards of cleanliness. If you’re looking for pollution-free escapes or just want to know which cities offer fresh air, tidy streets, and well-managed waste, here’s a list of the top cleanest cities in India in 2024-25 — what makes them stand out, and what lessons other cities can learn.
What Defines a “Clean City”
To understand why some cities stand out, here are the major metrics used to evaluate cleanliness:
- Waste management: door-to-door waste collection, segregation of waste at source, waste processing and disposal.
- Sanitation infrastructure: public toilets, faecal sludge management, cleanliness of public spaces.
- Citizen feedback: participation, reporting, awareness and behavior of residents.
- Air quality: especially PM2.5 and PM10 levels, efforts to reduce vehicular & industrial pollution.
- Innovation & sustainability: initiatives like composting, plastic reduction, green cover, water management.
These are some of the criteria used by the Swachh Survekshan survey (MoHUA) in ranking cities.
Top Cleanest Cities in India (2024-25)
Based on the latest Swachh Survekshan results and related analyses, here are some cities that consistently rank at the top for cleanliness in India:
| Rank | City | State | What makes it clean / special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indore (Madhya Pradesh) | MP | Named the cleanest city of India for the eighth time in a row. Strong waste management, citizen participation, solid sanitation infrastructure. |
| 2 | Surat (Gujarat) | Gujarat | Consistently high performance; excellent door-to-door waste collection and sustainable practices. |
| 3 | Navi Mumbai | Maharashtra | Planned city with good infrastructure, strong public feedback mechanisms, focus on reuse/recycle. |
| Other top cities | Bhopal, Vijayawada, Greater Hyderabad, Pune | MP, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra | These cities are performing well in various population categories (million-plus, 3-10 lakhs etc.), showing improvements in sanitation, waste treatment, infrastructure. |
Additionally, smaller & medium cities also feature in the top ranks:
- Noida (3-10 lakh pop category) ‒ top among that category.
- Chandigarh, Mysuru ‒ strong showing in hygiene, public participation.
- Ambikapur, Tirupati ‒ medium-towns rising due to 3R (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) systems, community cleanups.
Air-Quality & Pollution-Free Spots
Cleanliness is not only about streets & waste. Air quality also matters for a truly “pollution-free experience.” A few cities and towns stand out for having relatively clean air:
- Some smaller towns in the Northeast, coastal regions, and hill regions often get high ranks in AQI surveys.
- For example, cities like Aizawl, Madikeri, Palkalaiperur, Gangtok etc. are often listed among places with “Good” air quality.
Why These Cities Win
Here are common practices that help these cities perform well:
- Efficient waste collection & segregation: source segregation of dry & wet waste, frequent collection rounds, reducing open dumping.
- Robust sanitation facilities: public toilets, faecal sludge treatment, drainage maintenance.
- Citizen Engagement: people’s voice in surveys, cleanliness drives, awareness campaigns.
- Government Support & Policies: Swachh Survekshan rankings motivate cities; financial & institutional backing helps.
- Innovative Practices: reuse of waste (compost, recycling), plastic bans, green cover, water reuse, etc.
Challenges & What More Needs to Be Done
Even the cleanest cities have areas to improve:
- Air pollution still remains high in many metros during certain seasons.
- Waste processing capacity (e.g. garbage treatment plants) is often stretched or inefficient.
- Issues like legacy dumpsites are hard to resolve.
- Behavioural change (litter-free lifestyle, less use of plastics) has to become more widespread.
- Maintenance matters: cleanliness is not a one-time effort but ongoing work.
Clean Cities as Tourist Destinations
For travellers, clean cities offer more than just good aesthetics: better health, more enjoyable public spaces, less smell/pollution, more green spaces, better facilities. If you are planning a trip, these cities can be great destinations not only for sightseeing but also for relaxation and clean-air breathing.
Key Takeaways for Other Cities
If your city wants to improve, here are steps that tend to make a difference:
- Implement the 3R principle strictly (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
- Ensure waste is collected with segregation at source.
- Increase green cover & promote urban forestry.
- Improve public infrastructure: toilets, waste bins, drainage.
- Engage citizens: awareness drives, feedback systems.
- Use technology: apps to report cleanliness issues, smart monitoring.
Conclusion
India’s cleanliness rankings are showing positive trends. Cities like Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai are leading by example. Smaller towns and medium cities are catching up thanks to better policies, citizen action, and sustainable practices. For travellers and residents alike, these clean cities offer better quality of life, healthier environment, and often more pleasant experiences.
If you’re looking for a relaxing trip free from air and environmental pollution, keep an eye on these cities. Plus, by learning what works in these places, we can hope more Indian cities also rise in the rankings.