Indore Leads Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025, Delhi Slips to 32nd: What It Means for India’s Air Quality Mission

Indore, India’s cleanest city, has added another feather to its cap by securing the top position in Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan (Clean Air Survey) 2025 for cities with populations over 10 lakh. The rankings, announced under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), recognize cities for their efforts in implementing air pollution mitigation measures on the ground.

While Indore’s success reflects the impact of sustained governance and citizen participation, the performance of Delhi (ranked 32nd) and several other metro cities underscores the challenges India still faces in addressing urban air pollution.

About Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan

The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan (SVS) is a Government of India initiative that evaluates 130 cities across three population categories:

Category 1: Cities with population above 10 lakh (47 cities)

Category 2: Cities with population between 3–10 lakh (43 cities)

Category 3: Cities with population under 3 lakh (40 cities)

Unlike conventional pollution indices, SVS emphasizes implementation of clean air action plans, assessing measures such as:

Biomass and municipal waste management

Road dust and construction dust control

Reduction of vehicular and industrial emissions

Improvements in PM10 levels

Public awareness initiatives

Highlights from the 2025 Rankings

Top Performers:

Category 1 (Over 10 lakh): Indore, Jabalpur, Agra & Surat

Category 2 (3–10 lakh): Amravati, Jhansi & Moradabad, Alwar

Category 3 (Under 3 lakh): Dewas, Parwanoo, Angul

Metro City Performance:

Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru continue to report PM10 levels of 92 µg/m³ or higher—well above the national safe limit of 60 µg/m³ under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Chennai stands out as the only major metro within safe limits, recording 58 µg/m³.

Mumbai achieved the highest progress, with a 44% reduction in PM10 since 2017–18.

National Progress Under NCAP

The survey shows that India is making gradual progress in its clean air mission:

103 cities have recorded declining PM10 levels.

64 cities achieved a 20% reduction in PM10 (2017–18 to 2024–25).

25 cities reached a 40% reduction.

This indicates that while challenges persist in large metros, smaller and mid-sized cities are successfully leveraging NCAP to improve air quality.

Why These Rankings Matter

Air pollution remains one of the biggest urban health risks in India. Elevated levels of PM10 and PM2.5 contribute to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and reduced productivity. For businesses and workplaces, this translates into increased absenteeism, higher healthcare costs, and reduced employee well-being.

The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025 reinforces that:

Action drives results – Cities like Indore and Amravati show how consistent interventions deliver measurable improvements.

Metros face unique challenges – Rapid urbanization, vehicular load, and construction activity make sustained action critical in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

Clean air is central to sustainability – Cleaner cities support healthier citizens, more resilient workplaces, and stronger economies.

Moving Towards Cleaner, Healthier Workplaces

At Caleedo, we believe that cleaner air and sustainable workplaces go hand in hand. The lessons from Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025 extend beyond city planning—they underline the importance of continuous monitoring, technology-driven solutions, and behavioral change in achieving long-term air quality goals.

As businesses and institutions adapt to sustainability goals, integrating air quality monitoring, smart facility management, and awareness initiatives becomes essential—not just to comply with regulations, but to create workplaces that are healthier, more productive, and future-ready.

Conclusion

The results of Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025 are both encouraging and cautionary. While Indore sets a benchmark for clean air leadership, the struggles of Delhi and other metros highlight the urgent need for collaborative, multi-sectoral action.

For India to achieve its clean air vision, cities, businesses, and citizens must work together to ensure that air quality improvements translate into healthier lives and sustainable urban growth.

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