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Delhi, the place air air pollution regularly reaches hazardous ranges in winter, was positioned at twenty first place within the evaluation.
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Lucknow has emerged as the town with the cleanest air amongst cities with a inhabitants of over a million within the 2026 Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan, recognising its efforts to enhance air high quality.
The rankings, nonetheless, threw up a shock when Delhi didn’t characteristic among the many 5 cities with the poorest air high quality on this class. Regardless of its infamous air pollution ranges, significantly in the course of the peak winter months, Delhi was ranked 21st.
Chennai, Jamshedpur, Kota, Kolkata and Madurai occupied the underside 5 positions amongst million-plus cities.
Delhi, the place air air pollution regularly reaches hazardous ranges in winter, was positioned at twenty first place within the evaluation.
Additionally Learn | Not Just Choking Lungs, Delhi Air Pollution Is Affecting Your Mental Health Too
Amongst different main cities, Srinagar ranked twenty sixth, Mumbai twenty eighth, Bengaluru thirty second and Varanasi thirty fourth.
Rourkela topped the rankings amongst cities with populations between three lakh and 10 lakh, adopted by Firozabad. Noida secured the eighth place, whereas Dehradun ranked twelfth and Gaya thirty fifth.
Within the class of cities with populations beneath three lakh, Kalinga Nagar emerged because the top-ranked metropolis, whereas Byrnihat was positioned final.
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Award
The Ministry of Surroundings, Forest and Local weather Change (MoEFCC) awarded the best-performing cities and wards underneath the Nationwide Clear Air Programme (NCAP) as a part of the fifth Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan.
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan assesses the steps taken by cities to enhance air high quality throughout a number of areas, together with highway mud administration, strong waste administration, vehicular emissions, industrial air pollution, building and demolition waste, emissions from diesel generator units and industrial institutions, and knowledge, training and communication (IEC) actions.
The framework for the survey was launched in 2022-23 to evaluate and rank cities based mostly on their efforts to sort out air air pollution.
For the 2026 awards, 130 cities lined underneath the NCAP had been assessed throughout three inhabitants classes — cities with fewer than 3 lakh residents, these with populations between 3 lakh and 10 lakh, and cities with greater than 10 lakh residents.
The evaluation concerned a number of phases, together with self-assessment by cities, scrutiny and approval by State-level Monitoring Committees, analysis by the Central Air pollution Management Board (CPCB), and subject verification by impartial committees. The ten best-performing cities had been subsequently chosen for recognition.
The awards had been offered throughout Swachh Vayu Diwas, which additionally highlighted the progress made underneath the NCAP, the Centre’s flagship programme geared toward enhancing air high quality throughout 130 cities in 24 states and Union Territories.
As a part of the programme, a performance-linked grant of ₹16,425 crore has been supplied to the 130 NCAP cities to assist fund measures geared toward lowering air air pollution and addressing essential gaps in pollution-control infrastructure.
The NCAP has reported enchancment in PM10 concentrations throughout a number of cities. In 2025-26, in contrast with the 2017-18 baseline ranges:
* 108 of the 130 cities recorded an enchancment in PM10 ranges.
* 72 cities achieved a discount of greater than 20% in PM10 concentrations.
* 26 cities recorded reductions of greater than 40%.
* 14 cities met the Nationwide Ambient Air High quality Requirements (NAAQS).
The figures point out progress in lowering particulate air pollution throughout a number of NCAP cities, though air high quality stays a serious problem in lots of city centres, significantly during times of extreme air pollution.
Fast Solutions
Ask News18Lucknow emerged as the town with the cleanest air amongst cities with a inhabitants of over a million within the 2026 Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan. It secured the primary place, surpassing cities like Indore and Jabalpur.
Ask News18Concerning the Creator
Saurabh Verma is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, specializing in Indian politics, nationwide present affairs, and breaking international information. With years of expertise monitoring energy shifts, election strateg…Learn Extra
September 07, 2026, 20:14 IST
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