Odisha secured three major honours in the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 results, with Bhubaneswar, Puri and Aska recognised in different urban cleanliness categories at the national level. President Droupadi Murmu presented the honours for performance in sanitation and cleanliness, according to a report by The Samaja.
Bhubaneswar was recognised as Odisha’s first ‘state clean city’ and ranked fifth nationally among cities with populations of more than one million. The result places the state capital among the better-performing large urban areas in the latest cleanliness assessment, although the report did not provide the city’s score or the specific components that determined its ranking.
Puri received the top position in the country’s cleanest coastal city category. The recognition is significant for a city that combines a large resident population with substantial visitor activity, particularly around its coastal and pilgrimage economy. The report, however, did not detail the sanitation indicators or field-assessment findings behind the award.
Aska Notified Area Council secured second place in the category for cities with populations between 20,000 and 50,000. Maharashtra’s Vita was ranked first in the category, while Panaji in Goa finished third. The result gives Odisha representation across large-city, coastal-city and smaller-urban-body classifications.
The national list also saw Navi Mumbai overtake Madhya Pradesh’s Indore to become the country’s cleanest city. Indore had held the top position for eight consecutive years, according to the report. Surat in Gujarat ranked second and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh stood third.
Other category leaders included Greater Visakhapatnam among cities with populations above one million, Ujjain among cities with populations between 300,000 and one million, and Rewa in the cleanest riverfront city category. Rudrapur topped the Himalayan city category. Dewas ranked first among cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000, followed by the New Delhi Municipal Council in second place and Sagar in third.
This year’s survey also introduced or highlighted a mentor-city category. Indore was placed in that category with its partner city Depalpur, while Ahmedabad-Sanand and Tirupati-Kuppam were also listed among the leading city pairs. The report did not provide details of the assessment framework or the responsibilities assigned to mentor cities.
The results point to a cleanliness system that evaluates urban bodies through differentiated categories rather than a single citywide ranking. For municipal administrations, the awards recognise sanitation performance but do not by themselves establish how waste collection, segregation, processing, drainage maintenance or public toilet services are performing on the ground. The next official disclosures on scores and assessment criteria will determine what operational practices helped Odisha’s three cities secure their positions.
