Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his heartfelt congratulations to the people of Ahmedabad after the city earned the title of the cleanest metropolis in the million-plus population category in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Shah stated, "A moment of pride for Ahmedabadis as the city is ranked at the top among the cleanest big cities in India. This honor is a testimony to PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji's vision for the Swachhta Abhiyan. Cleanliness is not just a civic duty but a pillar of public health, and this ranking reflects the collective commitment of citizens."
He further encouraged citizens and authorities to continue pushing the boundaries of urban sanitation and make cleanliness a way of life. "My heartiest congratulations to the people of Ahmedabad and all the sanitation workers for their immense contributions," Shah added.
Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain expressed her elation over the achievement. In a statement to IANS, she said, "I am truly delighted. Ahmedabad being declared the cleanest big city is the outcome of relentless administrative efforts and enthusiastic citizen participation."
She credited the city's success to innovative waste management strategies, including the adoption of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) principles and the implementation of a waste-to-energy plant. "We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their visionary guidance. I hope cities across Gujarat follow suit in the years ahead," she added.
While Ahmedabad topped the big cities category, Indore—renowned for its clean city record—was elevated to the newly introduced "Super Swachh League" for maintaining its position as the cleanest city for eight years in a row. Bhopal and Lucknow secured second and third positions respectively in the million-plus population category.
Launched in 2016 under the Swachh Bharat Mission by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Swachh Survekshan survey has expanded dramatically. From its humble beginnings covering just 73 cities, the 2024–25 edition evaluated cleanliness standards across 4,589 cities between April 2024 and March 2025.
This year's awards ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi and was graced by President Droupadi Murmu, underlining the national significance of urban sanitation and sustainable living.
The 2024–25 survey recognized excellence in cleanliness across several categories:
Super Swachh League Cities
Top Three Clean Cities in Five Population-Based Categories
Special Categories: including recognitions for Ganga towns, cantonment boards, SafaiMitra Suraksha, and Mahakumbh regions
State-Level Awards: for most promising clean cities
For the first time, cities were divided into five population-based categories, with a new category introduced for very small cities (under 10 lakh population). This allowed for more equitable and competitive assessment based on comparable city sizes.
Ahmedabad's rise to the top highlights the effectiveness of integrated civic planning, citizen participation, and technological innovation in urban waste management. The city has now set a benchmark for others to emulate as India continues to strengthen its urban infrastructure under the Swachh Bharat Mission.