Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has scripted a major success in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, with the state capital Lucknow securing the top position nationally in the clean air category and, for the first time, surpassing Indore.
The achievement marks a significant step in Uttar Pradesh’s efforts to improve air quality, strengthen urban cleanliness, expand green spaces and enhance waste management and public infrastructure. The state has secured places for 16 cities across different population categories in the survey.
The progress comes under the leadership of Uttar Pradesh Urban Development and Energy Minister A.K. Sharma, with the state government focusing on cleanliness, scientific waste management, road and public-space maintenance, expansion of green areas and measures to control air pollution across urban centres.
Lucknow Leads Category-1 Cities
Among cities with a population of more than 10 lakh, six Uttar Pradesh cities featured in the rankings. Lucknow secured the first position nationally, followed by Agra at fourth, Ghaziabad at ninth, Kanpur at 11th, Prayagraj at 13th and Meerut at 22nd.
In the category covering cities with populations between three lakh and 10 lakh, six UP cities also secured positions. Firozabad ranked second, Jhansi fifth, Moradabad and Noida eighth, Gorakhpur 22nd and Bareilly 26th.
Four more Uttar Pradesh cities featured in the category for urban centres with populations below three lakh. Raebareli ranked 17th, followed by Anpara at 29th, Khurja at 30th and Gajraula at 31st.
Lucknow Ward Ranks First Nationally
Uttar Pradesh also delivered a strong performance at the ward level. Ward 70 of Lucknow secured the first position in the country in Category-1, further highlighting the city’s progress in clean-air management at the grassroots level.
In Category-2, Ward 31 of Prayagraj secured third position nationally.
The ward-level results underline the state government’s emphasis on improving urban management not only at the city level but also across individual wards.
A.K. Sharma Credits PM Modi and CM Yogi
Welcoming the achievement, Urban Development and Energy Minister A.K. Sharma expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying the state’s progress reflects sustained efforts towards cleaner and healthier cities.
Sharma recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s message of cleanliness and said Prime Minister Modi had transformed cleanliness into a mass movement by involving citizens across the country. He said the achievements in cleanliness and clean-air management were the result of this broad-based public participation.
He added that under the Prime Minister’s guidance and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, the urban landscape of Uttar Pradesh is changing rapidly. He described Lucknow’s first-place ranking in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 as a matter of pride for the entire state.
Minister Congratulates Officials and Citizens
Sharma congratulated officials, employees, elected representatives and, in particular, citizens across the state for contributing to the achievement. He stressed that clean air and clean cities cannot be achieved through government action alone and require active participation from every citizen.
The minister said Lucknow’s first national ranking after overtaking Indore for the first time was an important milestone and a source of fresh motivation for Uttar Pradesh.
He expressed confidence that the same collective commitment would help Lucknow emerge as the country’s number-one city in cleanliness rankings as well. The government, municipal authorities and citizens, he said, would continue working together towards that goal.
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