Swachh Survekshan 2025: Madurai Tops List of Dirtiest Cities

India’s urban cleanliness story remains one of contrasts, as the Swachh Survekshan 2025 survey reveals that smaller towns continue to outperform major metropolitan areas. While Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai maintain their clean city reputations, metros like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi have found themselves among the dirtiest in the country.

Swachh Survekshan 2025 Findings

The Swachh Survekshan 2025 rankings highlight persistent urban hygiene issues despite a decade of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Madurai emerged as India’s dirtiest city with a score of 4823, followed closely by Ludhiana, Chennai, Ranchi, and Bengaluru. The results underscore how rapid urbanisation, insufficient waste disposal systems, and civic indiscipline have led to poor sanitation in large cities.

Metros Among the Worst Performers

Bengaluru, India’s technology hub, ranked fifth among the dirtiest cities, signalling the strain of unchecked growth on basic civic infrastructure. Chennai and Delhi also performed poorly, placing third and tenth respectively. Greater Mumbai and Faridabad joined the list, showing that even financially strong cities continue to grapple with garbage management and drainage inefficiencies.

What’s New in Swachh Survekshan 2025

• Super Swachh League: A new category to recognize and rank cities with outstanding sanitation performance.
• Population-Based Matrix: Cities are now assessed within population categories to ensure fair comparison.
• Tourist Focus: Special emphasis on tourist destinations and high-footfall areas to uphold sanitation standards in key public spaces.
• Simplified Indicators: Ten comprehensive sections now cover the full spectrum of urban cleanliness and sanitation.
• New Metrics: Added indicators for Project Grounding and CTUs Transformation.
• School-Level Assessment: Introduced to embed the values of Swachhta in the younger generation.

Smaller Cities Outperform Big Metros

Contrary to expectations, smaller towns and mid-sized cities have achieved remarkable cleanliness improvements. Places such as Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Raipur, and Jabalpur have demonstrated effective waste segregation, citizen participation, and cleaner public spaces. The survey suggests that community-driven initiatives often deliver better results than resource-heavy but poorly managed urban programs.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Madurai ranked as India’s dirtiest city in 2025 Swachh Survekshan.
• Bengaluru stood fifth, while Delhi ranked tenth among the dirtiest.
• Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai were recognised in the “Super Swachh League.”
• Smaller towns like Raipur and Jabalpur outperformed major metros in cleanliness.

Challenges Ahead for Urban Cleanliness

The 2025 findings reinforce that civic discipline, public awareness, and efficient waste management are key to sustainable urban hygiene. As cities expand, integrated planning and citizen engagement will determine whether India can truly achieve the vision of clean, liveable cities across its diverse urban landscape.