Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards 2026
Why in News?
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026 in New Delhi on 7 September 2026. The event marked the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies and witnessed the conferment of the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards to the best-performing cities and wards under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan assesses the performance of cities in implementing measures for improving ambient air quality. The framework evaluates measures related to road dust, solid waste management, vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction and demolition waste, emissions from DG sets and commercial establishments, and IEC activities. The assessment involves city-level self-assessment, State-level Monitoring Committee approval, CPCB evaluation and independent field verification.
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 Rankings
The 130 participating cities were divided into three population-based categories.
| Category | Population | Top City | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category I | Above 10 lakh | Lucknow | 198/200 |
| Category II | 3–10 lakh | Rourkela | 198.5/200 |
| Category III | Below 3 lakh | Kalinga Nagar | 198.5/200 |
Lucknow topped Category I, followed by Indore and Jabalpur. Rourkela led Category II, while Kalinga Nagar topped Category III. The 2026 edition also introduced ward-level awards to recognise clean-air performance at the local level.
National Clean Air Programme
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 to improve air quality across Indian cities. The programme currently covers 130 cities across 24 States and Union Territories. A performance-linked grant of ₹16,425 crore has been provided to these cities for air-pollution mitigation measures.
PM10 Improvement under NCAP
The 2026 assessment showed significant improvement in PM10 levels compared with the FY 2017–18 baseline:
- 108 of 130 cities recorded improvement in PM10 levels.
- 72 cities achieved more than 20% reduction.
- 26 cities recorded reductions exceeding 40%.
- 14 cities met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Significance
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan encourages cities to adopt measurable and sustained measures against air pollution. It also promotes local-body participation, scientific monitoring, citizen engagement and replication of successful clean-air practices. A Compendium of Best Management Practices under NCAP was also released during the event. It covers road-dust control, vehicular pollution, industrial pollution, waste management, open burning, greening, technology and public outreach.
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan: Important Facts for Competitive Exams
- Swachh Vayu Diwas: 7 September.
- International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies: 7 September.
- NCAP: Launched in 2019.
- Cities covered under NCAP: 130.
- Top Category I city: Lucknow.
- Top Category II city: Rourkela.
- Top Category III city: Kalinga Nagar.
- PM10: Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometres or less.
- CPCB: Central Pollution Control Board.
