Navi Mumbai Dethrones Indore as India's Cleanest City in Swachh Survekshan 2025-26

Navi Mumbai has officially been crowned the cleanest city in India, marking a significant shift in the annual Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 rankings. While many people search for how navigation works in various contexts, the focus this week is on the navigation of urban sanitation policy that led to this historic change. After eight consecutive years of dominance by Indore, the Maharashtra city has secured the top position, followed by Surat and Vijayawada.

The results were unveiled in New Delhi on Wednesday, November 11, by President Droupadi Murmu. The 10th edition of this massive cleanliness survey involved over 4,700 urban local bodies, utilizing a rigorous digital assessment process. More than 3,000 trained assessors conducted on-ground evaluations supported by GPS-enabled monitoring to ensure transparency and accuracy.

Navi Mumbai has ended Indore's eight-year streak to become India's cleanest city in the 2025-26 survey.

The Shift in Rankings and Mentorship

Indore’s absence from the top spot does not signify a decline in its performance. Instead, the city participated in the newly introduced 'Swachh Shehar Jodi' initiative, a mentorship program designed to help urban centers improve their sanitation practices. Indore secured the second position in the Mentor City category alongside its partner, Depalpur. Ahmedabad and Sanand took the top spot, while Tirupati and Kuppam rounded out the top three.

The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry highlighted that cities participating in this mentorship program showed marked improvements. Visible cleanliness in these areas rose from 48% to 70%, while door-to-door waste collection increased from 52% to 74%. Other metrics, such as source segregation and used water management, also saw significant growth, reflecting the success of the collaborative approach.

Diverse Categories of Cleanliness

The survey recognized excellence across various population and geographical segments. Greater Visakhapatnam led the cities with populations over 10 lakh, while Ujjain topped the 3-10 lakh category. Smaller cities like Dewas and Vita were also recognized for their sanitation efforts. Furthermore, specific awards were given to Rewa for its riverfront, Rudrapur as the cleanest Himalayan city, and Puri for its coastal management.

Why it matters

The Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 highlights a nationwide shift toward collaborative sanitation management. By moving beyond simple competitive rankings to a mentorship-based model, the government is encouraging urban bodies to share best practices, directly impacting the quality of life for millions of residents across India.