Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 on 7 September, marking the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
During the event, the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards 2026 were presented to cities and wards that performed well in implementing air pollution control measures under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). A Compendium of Best Management Practices under NCAP was also released to help states replicate successful air quality improvement initiatives.
The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2019 to create global awareness about air pollution and promote collective action.
What is Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan?
Introduced in 2022-23, the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan evaluates cities based on their efforts to control air pollution.
The assessment covers measures related to:
- Road dust management
- Solid waste management
- Vehicular and industrial emission control
- Construction and demolition waste management
- Reduction of emissions from commercial sources
- Public awareness campaigns
The survey covers 130 NCAP cities and categorises them into three groups based on population:
- Above 10 lakh population
- Between 3 lakh and 10 lakh population
- Below 3 lakh population
Key Highlights of Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026
Best Performing Cities
Among cities with a population above 10 lakh, Lucknow secured the first position for initiatives such as electric vehicle adoption in municipal fleets, mechanised road sweeping and scientific waste management.
It was followed by:
- Indore
- Jabalpur
In the 3–10 lakh population category, Rourkela (Odisha) emerged as the top-performing city.
Among cities with populations below 3 lakh, Kalinganagar (Odisha) secured the first position.
Ward-Level Awards
The 2026 survey introduced ward-level rankings to recognise local efforts.
For wards with populations above 30,000, the top performers were:
- Lucknow
- Bhopal
- Nashik
In the second category, wards of Bhubaneswar, Vijayawada and Prayagraj secured leading positions.
Among smaller wards, Rourkela and Nalgonda performed well.
Progress Under National Clean Air Programme
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 by MoEFCC to reduce air pollution through coordinated action among governments, pollution control authorities and urban bodies.
The programme covers 130 non-attainment cities, which had failed to meet air quality standards consistently.
NCAP initially targeted a 20–30% reduction in particulate matter levels by 2024, using 2017 as the baseline. The target was later revised to achieve a 40% reduction by 2026.
Recent progress shows:
- 108 cities recorded improvement in PM10 levels.
- 72 cities achieved more than 20% reduction.
- 26 cities recorded over 40% reduction.
- 14 cities met National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
NCAP Implementation Mechanisms
NCAP uses multiple strategies for monitoring and improving air quality:
- PRANA Portal: Tracks progress of city-level clean air action plans.
- Performance-linked funding: ₹16,425 crore has been allocated for pollution mitigation activities.
- Source Apportionment Studies: Identify major pollution sources for targeted action.
- Three-tier monitoring system: Includes Apex, Steering and District-level committees.
The programme also works with initiatives such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Smart Cities Mission, FAME-II and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
Significance of Swachh Vayu Diwas
Swachh Vayu Diwas highlights the importance of clean air, public participation and sustainable urban development.
Through city rankings, knowledge sharing and scientific interventions, NCAP encourages innovative solutions to tackle air pollution. These efforts are essential for improving public health, achieving environmental sustainability and building cleaner cities across India.
FAQs: Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026
What is Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan?
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan is an annual assessment introduced in 2022-23 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to evaluate cities based on their efforts to control air pollution.
What is the objective of Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026?
The objective is to recognise cities and wards implementing effective air pollution control measures related to road dust management, waste management, emission control, construction waste management and public awareness.
Which city ranked first in the above 10 lakh population category in Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026?
Lucknow secured the first position among cities with a population above 10 lakh, followed by Indore and Jabalpur.
What is the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)?
The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019 by MoEFCC to reduce air pollution through coordinated action. It covers 130 non-attainment cities that have consistently failed to meet air quality standards.
What is the revised target of NCAP for reducing particulate matter pollution?
The NCAP target was revised to achieve a 40% reduction in particulate matter levels by 2026, compared to the 2017 baseline, through measures such as clean air action plans, monitoring and pollution control strategies.
