Recognition for Clean Air Champions
India Honours Clean Air and Wetland City Leaders: The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025 celebrated cities showing exceptional efforts in air pollution control and sustainable practices. The awards were presented by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on September 9, 2025.
A total of 11 top-performing cities were selected from 130 under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Their evaluation was based on innovation in transport, greenery, waste-to-energy projects, and pollution reduction strategies.
Static GK fact: NCAP was launched in 2019 to reduce particulate pollution (PM10 and PM2.5) by 20–30% by 2024, with 2017 as the base year.
Category Wise Award Winners
In cities with a population of more than 10 lakh, Indore topped with a perfect score of 200 and secured a ₹1.5 crore prize. Its initiatives included planting 16 lakh trees and expanding clean mobility with 120 electric and 150 CNG buses.
Jabalpur scored 199 and was awarded ₹1 crore for its 11 MW waste-to-energy plant. Agra and Surat shared third place with scores of 196, focusing on legacy waste management, EV adoption, and green cover expansion.
For cities with populations between 3–10 lakh, Amravati achieved the top rank with a score of 200. Jhansi and Moradabad followed closely with innovative solid waste projects. Dewas led the category under 3 lakh population.
Static GK fact: Indore has consistently ranked first in the Swachh Survekshan rankings since 2017.
Mobilizing Finance for Clean Air
A total of ₹1.55 lakh crore was mobilized across 130 cities for air quality initiatives. This included ₹20,130 crore under NCAP, ₹13,237 crore linked to performance, and ₹73,350 crore through central schemes like SBM-U, AMRUT, and FAME-II.
State governments and urban local bodies contributed an additional ₹82,000 crore, ensuring sustained funding for urban environmental reforms.
Wetland Cities Recognition
Alongside clean air recognition, Indore and Udaipur were awarded the Wetland City Accreditation under the Ramsar Convention. Indore was honoured for urban wetland management, while Udaipur gained recognition for lake protection and eco-tourism initiatives.
India now has 91 Ramsar sites, covering 1.36 million hectares, the highest number in Asia and the third highest globally.
Static GK fact: The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.
Strengthening Environmental Initiatives
The awards also highlighted the shift towards a Circular Economy, focusing on reuse and recycling. Initiatives like Nagar Van Yojana aim to develop 75 urban forests, while the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign targets the plantation of 75 crore saplings during Seva Parv.
These measures underline India’s commitment to sustainable urban growth, clean air, and biodiversity protection.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India Honours Clean Air and Wetland City Leaders:
| Topic | Detail |
| Event | Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan and Wetland City Awards 2025 |
| Date | September 9, 2025 |
| Organizer | Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change |
| Top NCAP City | Indore (Score: 200/200) |
| Other Leading Cities | Jabalpur, Agra, Surat, Amravati, Dewas |
| Total Cities Covered | 130 under NCAP |
| Funds Mobilized | ₹1.55 lakh crore |
| Wetland City Honourees | Indore and Udaipur |
| Ramsar Sites in India | 91 sites covering 1.36 million hectares |
| Key Campaigns | Mission LiFE, Nagar Van Yojana, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam |
