Indore, widely recognised as India’s cleanest city, has slipped from first to second place in the 2026 Clean Air Survey. The city scored 197 out of 200 points in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan among cities with populations above 10 lakh, while Lucknow topped the category with 198 points. Indore had secured a perfect 200 points and the top position in the previous survey. Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said the one-point gap was linked mainly to the city’s performance on PM10 pollution levels. The administration has now announced stronger measures to control dust, vehicle emissions and other pollution sources.Why Did Indore Lose Top Spot?Indore's second-place finish does not mean the city has stopped making progress on air pollution. The Clean Air Survey evaluates cities on actions taken to reduce pollution under the National Clean Air Programme, including measures targeting road dust, transport emissions, waste management and industrial pollution. Officials said Indore's score was affected by its PM10 performance, although the city remained among the country's strongest performers.Lucknow secured first place with 198 points.Indore finished second with 197 points.Jabalpur ranked third with 195 points.Indore had scored 200 points in the previous survey.PM10 performance was cited as a key reason for the one-point difference.Indore Air Pollution ChallengeThe latest ranking highlights the difference between cleanliness and air quality. Indore's municipal authorities have reported a decline of more than 15% in PM10 levels compared with previous years, but the annual average remained above India's national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre. Reports put the city's annual average PM10 level at around 76–81 micrograms per cubic metre, depending on the dataset and period cited.The city has already introduced several measures to address these pollution sources. Around 650–700 kilometres of roads are mechanically swept daily, while officials are also focusing on construction dust, industrial fuel quality, electric mobility and green cover. These measures contributed to Indore remaining near the top of the national clean-air rankings.Mayor Promises Stronger MeasuresMayor Pushyamitra Bhargava acknowledged the one-point shortfall and said the city would intensify its efforts to reduce PM10 pollution. The administration is particularly focusing on dust generated by vehicles and roads, along with construction-related pollution. Indore also received an incentive grant for air-quality management under the 15th Finance Commission, recognising its broader pollution-control efforts.Key HighlightsIndore ranked second in the 2026 Clean Air Survey.Lucknow topped the million-plus city category with 198 points.Indore scored 197 points, just one point behind Lucknow.PM10 levels remain an important challenge for the city.Mechanical road sweeping and dust-control measures are being strengthened.Indore received an incentive grant for air-quality management.ConclusionIndore may have lost the top position in the Clean Air Survey 2026, but its second-place ranking keeps it among India's leading cities for pollution-control efforts. The result also shows that maintaining clean air requires continuous work even in a city known nationally for cleanliness. With PM10 identified as an area requiring improvement, the municipal administration has promised stronger action on dust, traffic emissions and construction pollution. The next challenge for Indore will be turning these measures into further reductions in actual pollution levels.Disclaimer: This article is intended only for knowledge and news-information purposes and is based on publicly available reports and official survey-related information. Pollution figures and administrative statements are presented as reported.
