Bhubaneswar: Rourkela has secured the top position among cities with a population of 3 lakh to 10 lakh in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan-2026, conducted under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Bhubaneswar also featured among the top-performing cities in the category, securing the fourth position.
In the category of cities with a population of less than 3 lakh, Kalinga Nagar ranked first, followed by Anugola in second place and Talcher in third. The awards were presented by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) at an event organised in New Delhi on Monday to mark Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026, observed alongside the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan assesses the performance of cities on various measures aimed at reducing air pollution. The framework, introduced in 2022-23, evaluates steps taken by urban local bodies in areas such as road dust management, solid waste management, vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction and demolition waste management, emissions from DG sets and commercial establishments, and information, education and communication (IEC) activities.
The survey covered 130 cities under the NCAP and grouped them into three categories based on population: cities with fewer than 3 lakh people, cities with 3 lakh to 10 lakh people, and cities with more than 10 lakh people.
The ranking process involved multiple stages. Cities first carried out self-assessments, which were reviewed by State-level Monitoring Committees. The performance was subsequently evaluated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), followed by field verification by independent committees.
Based on the overall assessment, the best-performing cities were selected for recognition under the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan.