President Droupadi Murmu Presents Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26
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| President Droupadi Murmu Presents Swachh Survekshan Award |
Posted on 12 Nov 2026: President Droupadi Murmu honours India's cleanest cities; calls for greater citizen participation, better sanitation technology and stronger municipal accountability.
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26 in New Delhi on November 11, 2026. The awards recognise cities that have demonstrated outstanding performance in urban cleanliness and contributed to the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.
Addressing the award ceremony, the President emphasised that cleanliness should not be viewed merely as a way to improve the appearance of streets, public places and neighbourhoods. It is equally important for public health, social responsibility and effective administration.
She highlighted that building clean and healthy cities requires collective efforts from citizens, households, communities, local authorities and government institutions.
President Droupadi Murmu Emphasises Public Participation in Cleanliness
President Murmu stated that no single organization or government department can achieve the goal of a clean India independently. Every citizen, household, community and city must actively participate in maintaining cleanliness.
According to the President, cleanliness begins with individual behaviour and daily habits at home. Responsible waste disposal, maintaining hygienic surroundings and protecting public spaces are essential practices that should become part of everyday life.
She encouraged young people, women, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and community organisations to participate actively in cleanliness initiatives.
Citizens should also report shortcomings in municipal services and share their experiences with local authorities. Regular communication between residents and municipal administrations can improve public services while strengthening transparency, trust and accountability.
Citizen Feedback Should Improve Municipal Services
The President highlighted the importance of citizen feedback in making urban areas cleaner and healthier.
Residents are often the first to identify problems in their neighbourhoods, including irregular garbage collection, overflowing dustbins, poor drainage, unhygienic public toilets and inadequate waste management facilities.
Therefore, citizen feedback should not be restricted to surveys, assessments or city rankings. Municipal authorities should use this information to identify local problems and take corrective action.
An effective feedback system can help municipalities understand the actual needs of residents, improve sanitation services and ensure that public resources are used efficiently.
The President's message underlines an important principle: citizens should not only evaluate cleanliness but should also become active partners in improving their cities.
Technology and Innovation Can Transform Urban Sanitation
President Droupadi Murmu also stressed the need to develop effective, affordable and safe technologies for sanitation and waste management.
She expressed satisfaction that several educational institutions, including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and scientific research organisations are working to develop solutions for sanitation-related challenges.
Modern sanitation systems can help cities improve waste collection, transportation, segregation, recycling and scientific waste processing.
Technology-driven solutions can also help municipal bodies monitor sanitation services, identify operational problems and improve the efficiency of urban waste management.
The President's remarks highlight the importance of connecting scientific research with practical requirements at the local level.
Startups Can Create Employment in the Sanitation Sector
The President also recognised the growing contribution of startups in the sanitation sector.
Innovative enterprises can help address real-world challenges through new products, technologies and services related to waste management, recycling, sanitation infrastructure and environmental protection.
The development of sanitation-focused startups can provide two important benefits. First, it can help municipalities find practical and affordable solutions to cleanliness-related problems. Second, it can create employment and encourage entrepreneurship.
Greater cooperation between government agencies, research institutions, startups and local communities can support the development of a stronger sanitation ecosystem in India.
Special Focus on Tier-2 and Tier-3 Cities
President Murmu called for special attention to the development and capacity-building of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
These urban centres are experiencing rapid growth and have their own infrastructure requirements and sanitation challenges. Their growing populations increase the demand for efficient garbage collection, drainage facilities, public toilets, wastewater management and scientific waste disposal.
The President emphasised that the development of these cities should be supported by a national framework that also addresses their specific local requirements.
She suggested that urban planners in smaller cities should learn from the experiences of Tier-1 cities, particularly by studying the difficulties faced by larger urban centres and the solutions adopted to address them.
This approach can help emerging cities plan their infrastructure more effectively and avoid repeating problems experienced by metropolitan areas.
What Is Swachh Survekshan?
Swachh Survekshan is an annual cleanliness assessment initiative organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
It evaluates the cleanliness performance of urban local bodies and recognises cities that demonstrate strong efforts in sanitation, waste management and public participation.
The initiative forms an important part of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, which aims to improve sanitation standards, promote scientific solid waste management and encourage citizens to take responsibility for their surroundings.
Through assessments, public participation and recognition of better-performing cities, Swachh Survekshan encourages urban local bodies to improve their cleanliness services and administrative practices.
The awards also provide an opportunity for cities to learn from successful sanitation initiatives and adopt effective approaches to local challenges.
Why the Swachh Survekshan Awards Matter
The Swachh Survekshan Awards are significant because urban cleanliness directly affects the quality of life of residents.
A clean city can contribute to healthier surroundings, better public hygiene, improved environmental conditions and more attractive public spaces.
The initiative also encourages municipal administrations to improve their performance and remain accountable to citizens.
Its broader importance includes:
- Public health: Better sanitation and waste management help maintain healthier living conditions.
- Environmental protection: Scientific waste processing and responsible disposal can reduce pollution.
- Citizen responsibility: Public participation encourages people to maintain cleanliness in their neighbourhoods.
- Administrative accountability: Citizen feedback helps municipalities identify service gaps and improve performance.
- Employment opportunities: Sanitation startups and waste management enterprises can support entrepreneurship and job creation.
- Urban development: Better planning can help growing cities build sustainable sanitation infrastructure.
Conclusion
The presentation of the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26 by President Droupadi Murmu highlights the importance of collective responsibility in building cleaner and healthier cities.
Her message makes it clear that cleanliness cannot be achieved through government programmes alone. It requires responsible citizens, efficient municipal administrations, innovative technologies, active community organisations, and sustainable urban planning.
As India's smaller cities continue to expand, strengthening sanitation infrastructure and public participation will become increasingly important.
Ultimately, a clean city is not created only through awards or rankings. It is built through everyday habits, responsible governance and the continuous cooperation of the people who live there.
Source: President of India – Official communication dated November 11, 2026.
Organising Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.
Click here to see the President's speech in Hindi
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