Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Launches PRAGATI-50 Clean Cities Initiative
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the PRAGATI-50 initiative, identifying 50 model cities across 24 states to demonstrate higher benchmarks of 'Swachhata' (cleanliness) under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 framework. This initiative follows directions from the Prime Minister during the 51st PRAGATI meeting and aims to create clean role-model cities through targeted, KPI-based action and technology-enabled monitoring.
Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal emphasized that these cities include major urban centers, cultural importance cities, high tourism destinations, and economic centers. The initiative will drive visible improvements in urban cleanliness, solid waste management, used water management, sanitation, and citizen participation through a structured monitoring framework. Progress will be continuously reviewed through outcome-based assessments and tech-enabled monitoring, with the Union Minister personally chairing review meetings every other month to track advancement.
Comprehensive Support Framework and New Guidelines
The initiative adopts a "City as a Whole" approach, ensuring all stakeholders, partners, and Urban Local Bodies are included in planning and implementation. A PRAGATI-like digital review mechanism has been established on the Swachhatam Portal for efficient monitoring, with Ministry officers assigned specific cities for regular supervision and handholding.
To support on-ground implementation, MoHUA released two key documents: the Standard Operating Procedure for Establishment of Secondary Collection Centre for Construction & Demolition Waste (C&D) and Guidelines for Source Segregation of Municipal Solid Waste mandated under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.
Innovation and Technology Initiatives
In collaboration with CSIR-CMERI, MoHUA launched the Swachh Bharat Test Bed & Innovation Centre at Durgapur, a national facility for research, product development, testing, validation, certification, and capacity building in sanitation technologies.
The third cohort of startups was launched in collaboration with the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, with 13 startups joining Cohort 3. This achievement marks the national target of onboarding and incubating 75 startups under the Mission, accelerating innovation across the waste value chain.
Citizen Engagement Platforms
A dedicated WhatsApp channel has been launched to complement the Swachhata App, making it easier for citizens to lodge complaints and contribute to keeping their cities clean. Additionally, the Swachhata Behaviour Change Digital Kosh was launched—a digital repository bringing together ideas, creatives, campaigns, and resources to strengthen behavior change for a cleaner India. This platform will provide States, ULBs, and stakeholders with ready-to-use communication resources and advocacy materials.
Sustainable Government Initiatives
As part of Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, a Reduce Reuse and Recycle (RRR) Centre was inaugurated at Sankalp Bhawan, New Delhi—the first such centre in a Union Ministry office. This initiative promotes sustainable consumption, reuse, resource recovery, and circularity in government workplaces.
Minister of State Shri Tokhan Sahu noted that Swachhata has evolved from a people's movement into a way of life over the past decade, while Secretary Sh. Satendra Singh emphasized efforts toward ensuring better citizen experience and holistic service delivery.