Source PIB: Greater Hyderabad has been recognised as Telangana’s first State First Swachh City under the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, conducted by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban.
The award recognises the city’s efforts in urban sanitation, cleanliness and solid waste management. The recognition was presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the national Swachh Survekshan Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on November 11.
Hyderabad in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner R.V. Karnan and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed received the award on behalf of the city.
Assessment Based on Cleanliness and Waste Management
Hyderabad’s performance was assessed across several important areas, including:
- Visible cleanliness and sanitation management.
- Waste segregation and door to door garbage collection.
- Transportation and processing of solid waste.
- Sewage and used water management.
- Availability of sanitation facilities.
- Welfare of sanitation workers.
- Public participation and citizen feedback.
The evaluation reportedly carried a total of 10,500 marks across 10 major parameters. Third party field inspections conducted in April and May 2026 examined sanitation infrastructure, waste management, sewage treatment and public feedback.
Hyderabad’s Previous Cleanliness Achievements
The city has also received several cleanliness-related recognitions in previous years:
- 2017: Hyderabad received Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
- 2019: The city achieved ODF++ status.
- 2021: GHMC became the first urban local body in Telangana to receive Water Plus certification.
- 2023 and 2024: GHMC retained its Water Plus certification.
- 2023: Hyderabad received a five star Garbage Free City rating.
- 2024: The city received a seven star Garbage Free City rating.
- 2024 Swachh Survekshan: Hyderabad secured sixth place among cities with populations exceeding 10 lakh.
GHMC’s Role in Supporting Other Municipalities
- Under the Swachh Shehar Jodi initiative, GHMC also served as a mentor to Manthani and Cheriyal municipalities in Telangana.
- The initiative involved training programmes and capacity building workshops aimed at improving sanitation standards and strengthening waste management practices in these municipalities.
National Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26
The national awards ceremony recognised cities across different population categories and special cleanliness categories.
According to reported survey figures:
- More than 4,751 cities participated in the 2025–26 survey.
- Around 2.70 crore citizens provided feedback.
- More than 350 urban local bodies improved their rankings by over 500 positions.
- Over 1,700 smaller urban local bodies recorded improvements compared with 2024-25.
The assessment covered 43 indicators across 10 critical domains, supported by more than 3,000 trained assessors and GPS enabled monitoring.
President Droupadi Murmu Emphasises Citizens Responsibility
- Addressing the award ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu highlighted that cleanliness is not merely about maintaining the appearance of public spaces but also reflects public health, social consciousness and administrative accountability.
- She emphasised the importance of participation by citizens, households, youth, women, Resident Welfare Associations and community organisations in maintaining clean and healthy cities. She also highlighted the need for better sanitation technologies and stronger municipal services.
- The recognition is expected to encourage GHMC to continue improving sanitation infrastructure, waste management, urban hygiene and environmental sustainability across Greater Hyderabad.
- The achievement also highlights the contribution of sanitation workers, municipal staff, officials and residents, whose collective efforts are essential to maintaining a cleaner city.
