News: Indore topped Swachh Vayu Survekshan (SVS) 2025 for million-plus cities under NCAP, as announced by the Union Environment Minister.
About Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2025
- SVS is an annual survey conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
- It is a rigorous, multi-tiered evaluation based on comprehensive due diligence under NCAP.
- It covers 130 NCAP cities each year to promote healthy competition and accelerate actions to improve air quality.
- It promotes healthy competition and faster action to improve air quality.
- The survey assesses eight areas, including road-dust control, solid-waste management, vehicular and industrial emissions, construction and demolition waste handling, public awareness, and particulate-matter improvements.
Key Highlight
- Category-wise rankings:
- Million-plus cities: Indore ranked first, Jabalpur second, and Agra with Surat shared third.
- Population 3–10 lakh: Amravati ranked first; Jhansi and Moradabad shared second; Alwar ranked third.
- Population under 3 lakh: Dewas ranked first; Parwanoo ranked second; Angul ranked third.
- Overall progress: PM10 declined in 103 of 130 cities. 64 cities achieved a 20% cut while 25 cities reached a 40% cut.
- Metro trends:
- Mumbai showed the highest decline (44%), followed by Kolkata (37%), Hyderabad and Bengaluru (26% each), Delhi (15%), and Chennai (12%).
- Of the 130 cities, 22 met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by reporting annual average PM10 concentrations of less than 60 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3).
- Among the big metros, only Chennai met the acceptable limit, recording an annual average of 58 ug/m3..
- Recognitions and initiatives:
- Indore and Udaipur received Ramsar “Wetland Cities” certificates.
- A target to plant 75 crore plants during “Seva Parv” under “Ek Ped Maa ke Naam” (Sept 17–Oct 2) was announced.
