Cleanest Cities of India: Pimpri-Chinchwad Tops Maharashtra, Ranks 7th Nationally; Pune Climbs to 8th as Indore Retains No.1 Spot

Pune, July 17, 2025: In a moment of civic pride, the twin city of Pimpri-Chinchwad has emerged as a sanitation leader, clinching the first rank in Maharashtra and the 7th rank nationally in the Swachh Survekshan 2024—India’s largest annual cleanliness survey under the Swachh Bharat Mission. The recognition reflects not only local government efficiency but also the active participation of citizens and civic stakeholders across the region.

Adding to its accolades, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has earned the prestigious 7-Star Garbage Free City certification and the Water Plus rating, affirming its commitment to world-class solid waste management and sustainable sanitation practices.

The awards were presented at a grand ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, in the presence of key dignitaries, including Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal, MoS Shri Tokhan Sahu, and senior officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

A Landmark Achievement for Pimpri-Chinchwad

Accepting the honours on behalf of PCMC were Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh, Deputy Commissioner Sachin Pawar, and Chief Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni. Speaking at the event, officials credited the success to the relentless work of sanitation staff, citizen participation, focused waste segregation initiatives, and technological integration into waste tracking and disposal.

“This recognition puts Pimpri-Chinchwad firmly on the national map of clean and smart cities. From zero-waste colonies to water conservation and circular waste economy, our efforts are now being acknowledged at the highest level,” said Commissioner Shekhar Singh.

The 7-Star Garbage Free certification is among the most difficult honours to secure under the Swachh Bharat Mission. It indicates that the city maintains scientific waste management across residential, industrial, and commercial zones, and successfully prevents untreated waste from entering the environment.

Similarly, the Water Plus certification is awarded to cities that ensure all wastewater released is treated and reused or disposed of safely, without polluting water bodies.

Pune Climbs to 8th Spot Nationally

Neighbouring Pune city also showcased strong performance in this year’s rankings, securing 8th place nationally in the over 10 lakh population category. This marks an improvement over the previous two years where it held the 9th position.

Pune’s journey up the rankings has been notable:

• 2019: 37th
• 2020: 15th
• 2021: 5th
• 2022: 9th
• 2023: 9th
• 2024: 8th

A senior Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) official noted that a detailed gap analysis post-2023 results helped drive corrective strategies, including stricter enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and increased focus on source segregation.

“Our next goal is to break into the top five. The climb is tough, but with citizen cooperation and improved systems, it is achievable,” the official added.

National Cleanliness Trends: Indore Reigns Supreme

On the national front, Indore (Madhya Pradesh) retained its #1 rank for the 8th consecutive year, reaffirming its legacy as India’s cleanest city. Surat (Gujarat) and Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra) followed in the 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

The Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards recognized 43 cities under different categories. Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow were named as the next-generation clean cities of India. The awards also recognized innovations in smaller towns and included a focus on school-led sanitation initiatives, zero-waste colonies, and startups working on waste management.

President Emphasizes Circular Economy & Citizen Values

Addressing the audience, Hon’ble President Murmu highlighted how India’s ancient traditions aligned with modern sustainability principles like reduce-reuse-recycle. She stressed the importance of source segregation, community-driven sanitation, and eliminating single-use plastic, while praising tribal and rural communities for their resource-conserving lifestyles.

President Murmu added, “It is heartening to see cities embrace swachhata as part of their swabhav and sanskaar. The Viksit Bharat of 2047 will be exemplary for the world.”

She also lauded the new Swachh City Partnership initiative, wherein 78 top-performing cities will now mentor underperforming cities from their respective states.

Looking Ahead: A Cleaner Future for Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad

As Pimpri-Chinchwad leads Maharashtra in sanitation benchmarks, the achievement serves as motivation for neighbouring urban bodies and the citizens of the Pune Metropolitan Region to strive further. With the upcoming Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Program launching on August 15, 2025, and newer waste-processing targets being set, civic authorities are gearing up for an even cleaner and greener future.

The awards reflect not just government performance but also the increasing civic awareness and responsibility embraced by residents. From school-led cleanliness drives to smart waste segregation apps, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune are fast becoming models of urban sustainability in India.