President of India Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2025-26 in New Delhi on November 11, 2026, honoring India's cleanest cities and recognizing their outstanding contributions to Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. The awards are organized by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
In her address, President Murmu emphasized that cleanliness extends beyond aesthetic appeal to encompass health indicators, social consciousness, and administrative accountability. She stressed that achieving cleanliness goals requires participation from every citizen, household, community, and city, noting that cleanliness reflects domestic habits as well.
The President called for enhanced citizen engagement, particularly from youth, women, Resident Welfare Associations, and community organizations, who should share experiences and report shortcomings to help make cities cleaner and healthier. She emphasized that citizen feedback should serve as a vital tool for improving municipal services and addressing local challenges, fostering ongoing dialogue between municipal administration and citizens to strengthen trust, transparency, and accountability.
Murmu highlighted the need to develop effective, affordable, and safe technologies in the sanitation field, noting that various institutions including IITs and other scientific research organizations are actively working in this direction. She also observed that several startups have emerged in the sanitation sector, which can contribute significantly toward solving real-world sanitation challenges while creating employment opportunities.
The President specifically emphasized enhancing capacities of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as the fastest-growing urban centers with distinct needs and challenges. She recommended that their development should occur within a national framework designed to address specific problems, with planners in Tier-2 cities learning from the experiences of Tier-1 city planners.