Lucknow Claims Top Spot in Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2026, Indore Secures Second

Public Lokpal
September 07, 2026

Lucknow has secured the first rank in the million-plus population category in the Central Pollution Control Board’s Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2026, dethroning previous front-runners. Indore finished close behind in second place, while Jabalpur claimed third.

Administered under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the survey evaluates cities on parameters such as solid waste processing, construction and demolition waste management, vehicular emission controls, and road dust mitigation.

Lucknow's municipal corporation attributed its rise from 15th place last year to aggressive localized interventions.

Key drivers included the deployment of over 1,100 electric vehicles for door-to-door waste collection, mechanized electric street sweeping, and the end-to-end paving of nearly 560 kilometers of roads to curb particulate matter.

Additionally, Lucknow's Paper Mill Colony (Ward 70) was individually recognized as the best-performing ward nationally in its population tier.

Other top performers in the million-plus category included Bhopal and Agra tied at fourth place, and Surat at fifth.

Meanwhile, major metropolitan centers lagged behind significantly, with Delhi placing 21st and Mumbai ranking 28th.