Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow has emerged as the third cleanest city in India, according to the recently released Swachh Survekshan 2024 rankings.
The significant jump in rankings marks a remarkable achievement in the city’s cleanliness and waste management efforts.
Announcing the feat on Monday, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said that Lucknow had improved its ranking by 41 places from the previous assessment.
“In the central government's 'Swachhata Survekshan-2024', the state capital Lucknow has set a record. In the released list, Lucknow district has jumped 41 points from the previous rank, securing the third position nationwide,” Khanna posted on X.
The Swachh Survekshan is a flagship initiative conducted annually by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It serves as a comprehensive assessment of urban cleanliness and effective solid waste management across Indian cities.
The 2024 survey featured enhanced evaluation metrics, such as cleanliness in educational institutions, including the provision of gender-segregated toilets and the proper disposal of wet and dry waste.
The Swachh Bharat Mission, which forms the foundation of this nationwide cleanliness drive, was launched on October 2, 2014, to instill a sense of civic responsibility and promote sanitation across the country.
Lucknow’s rapid progress in the latest rankings is being seen as a reflection of sustained municipal efforts, community participation, and policy emphasis on urban hygiene.