New Delhi, Dec 24: Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, themed “Swacchata Ki Nayi Pehel- Badhayein Haath, Karein Safai Saath,” celebrates a decade of fostering urban cleanliness in India.
Union Minister Manohar Lal launched the toolkit for this year’s survey in Bhopal, emphasizing cleanliness as a collective endeavor. SS has evolved into a crucial management tool, expanding from assessing 73 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 2016 to nearly 4900 in 2024, and is vital for promoting sanitation standards and quality services.
The initiative enhances citizen engagement by allowing year-round feedback through various digital platforms, thus strengthening the assessment process. Additionally, it now includes assessments of towns along the Ganga and coastal areas, introducing new matrices for these regions. The program also incorporates a mentorship framework, “Swachh Shehar Jodi,” to encourage knowledge exchange.
A robust feedback and grievance redressal system has been institutionalized alongside tightened assessment protocols, with trained assessors set to conduct surveys across ULBs using GPS-enabled monitoring. The SS aims not just to rank cities but to empower communities, promoting ownership of cleanliness as a national aspiration while continuously reinforcing a culture of accountability and pride among citizens.
