When you think of Uttar Pradesh, you might picture iconic places like the Taj Mahal, Varanasi’s ghats, or Ayodhya’s spiritual energy. But now, there’s another big reason to talk about the state. Uttar Pradesh is officially India’s cleanest state, as per the latest Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 survey.
Yes, you read that right. I am from Uttar Pradesh and even I am surprised.
Every year, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs conducts Swachh Survekshan to rank Indian cities and states based on cleanliness and sanitation efforts. This year, the 9th edition of the awards was held on July 17 at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi.
President Droupadi Murmu presented a total of 78 awards, and Uttar Pradesh stole the spotlight by bagging top honours in multiple categories.
The capital city Lucknow is now officially one of the cleanest cities in India. It secured the 3rd spot in cities with over 10 lakh population and also achieved the prestigious 7-Star Garbage-Free City certification. The city has seriously levelled up its cleanliness game.
It wasn’t just Lucknow. Several cities from Uttar Pradesh were recognized for their efforts. Prayagraj was named the Cleanest Ganga City. Gorakhpur received recognition in two categories: Safaimitra Safe City and Midsize City Cleanliness. It also earned a 5-Star GFC rating. Agra made it to the Top 30 Cleanest Cities in India and was titled the Emerging Clean City of UP. Smaller towns like Moradabad, Bijnor, and Shamshabad were also appreciated for their cleanliness efforts.
For the longest time, Uttar Pradesh was not seen as a clean state. But these awards prove that consistent efforts, planning, and civic responsibility can change narratives.
Under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh is looking better than ever. With cleaner streets, better infrastructure, and strong tourism vibes, the state is growing.
Uttar Pradesh has several tourist places including Agra, Varanasi, Lucknow, Mathura, and Ayodhya. If you want to enjoy a religious trip, You can plan a trip to Uttar Pradesh.