Gwalior Honoured as Madhya Pradesh’s Cleanest City, President Droupadi Murmu Presents National Award
Award falls under the ‘State First Swachh City’ category; social media raises questions over rankings and ground realities, including road dust and cleanliness
Dwarka News | Editor-in-Chief: Vikram Singh Tomar
Gwalior has achieved a significant milestone in the Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, receiving the prestigious ‘State First Swachh City of Madhya Pradesh’ award. President Droupadi Murmu presented the honour to the city at a national award ceremony held in New Delhi.
However, the announcement has triggered mixed reactions on social media. While many have congratulated Gwalior for its achievement, others have raised questions about the award category and the actual condition of cleanliness on the city’s streets.
Did Gwalior Outrank Indore and Jabalpur?
An important distinction needs to be understood. Gwalior received the recognition under the state-level ‘State First Swachh City’ category. This does not mean that the city has surpassed Indore or Jabalpur in the overall national rankings.
According to the reported rankings, Gwalior secured 18th position, while Jabalpur achieved second position in the national category for cities with a population of more than 10 lakh.
Indore and Ujjain Also Deliver Strong Performances
Other Madhya Pradesh cities have also recorded notable achievements.
Indore, along with Depalpur, secured second position nationally in the ‘Clean City Jodi’ category. Meanwhile, Ujjain secured first position among cities with populations ranging from 3 lakh to 10 lakh.
Ground Realities Become a Talking Point
Following Gwalior’s recognition, social media users have been sharing sarcastic comments and memes about the city’s roads, dust and sanitation conditions.
Interestingly, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also congratulated Gwalior on the achievement while emphasising the need to address road dust and repair-related issues at the earliest.
Recognition Must Bring Greater Responsibility
The award is undoubtedly a matter of pride for Gwalior. However, the true measure of a city’s cleanliness is not limited to awards and rankings. Clean roads, effective waste management, proper sanitation and visible improvements in public facilities are equally important.
The real challenge now is to ensure that this recognition translates into lasting improvements in Gwalior’s cleanliness and urban infrastructure.
Author: Vikram singh tomar
DWARKA NEWS NATIONAL NETWORK
