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In a significant development aimed at further promoting urban cleanliness across India, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has unveiled a new competitive category, the 'Super Swachh League,' specifically for those cities that have consistently demonstrated exceptional commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness. This move, announced on January 18, 2025, seeks to not only recognize the outstanding achievements of these cities but also to spur others towards achieving similar recognition in the realm of sanitation and cleanliness.
The 'Super Swachh League' stands as a testament to the sustained excellence of cities like Indore, which has been named the cleanest city for an impressive seven consecutive years. The introduction of this league marks a pivotal moment in the Swachh Bharat Mission, reflecting the government's dedication to cleanliness and its innovative approach to ensuring the mission's enduring success on a global scale. The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, at the toolkit launch for Swachh Survekshan, highlighted the league's role in fostering a competitive spirit among cities, stating, "To acknowledge the exceptional performance of cities in Swachh Survekshan, we are introducing the 'Super Swachh League', a competition among the cleanest cities. This reflects our shared commitment to cleanliness, and our continuous innovation ensures that the Swachh Bharat Mission remains a global success even after 10 years."
In addition to launching the 'Super Swachh League', MoHUA has implemented a novel classification system for the Swachh Survekshan Awards, sorting cities into five distinct groups based on their population sizes for the first time. These categories are: 'Very Small’, 'Small’, 'Medium’, 'Big’, and 'Million-Plus’. Each category will undergo assessment based on tailored parameters that consider the unique needs and size of the cities within them. This restructuring aims to make the Swachh Survekshan more inclusive, allowing smaller cities to showcase their cleanliness initiatives alongside traditionally recognized cities like Indore and Surat.
The cities eligible for the 'Super Swachh League' are those that have ranked in the top three of their respective population categories at least twice in the past three years (2021-2023), with 12 cities making the cut initially. Moving forward, the top three cities in each population group will qualify for the league in subsequent years. To retain their status in the league, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) must achieve an aspirational indicator score of 85 per cent or higher, as per ministry officials.
In this league, cities are further grouped by population. The 'Very Small' category includes cities like Panchgani and Patan, with populations under 20,000. 'Small' cities, with populations between 20,000 and 50,000, include Vita and Sasvad. The 'Medium' category, for cities with 50,000 to 3 lakh residents, features Ambikapur, Tirupati, and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). 'Big Cities', with populations from 3 lakh to 10 lakh, count Noida and Chandigarh among their ranks, while 'Million-Plus' cities, with over 10 lakh residents, include Navi Mumbai, Indore, and Surat.
Launched by MoHUA in 2016, Swachh Survekshan has been instrumental in driving improvements in urban sanitation through encouraging citizen participation and incorporating third-party validation of cleanliness efforts. This strategic move to introduce a super league and reclassify cities based on their population underscores the government's commitment to enhancing the quality and scope of the Swachh Bharat Mission, ensuring its impact resonates well into the future.
