India’s cleanest city Indore slips from top spot in clean air survey; Mayor assures anti-pollution steps
Indore has lost its top ranking in India's Clean Air Survey to Lucknow due to high levels of PM10 particles. The city's mayor has announced new initiatives, including the promotion of electric vehicles, to address the pollution.
Why it matters
This reflects the ongoing challenges Indian cities face in balancing rapid urbanization with environmental sustainability standards.
The local administration has blamed PM10 particles — dangerous airborne particles — for vehicle-heavy Indore’s slide from first place to second in the 2026 Clean Air Survey and has announced intensified measures to reduce air pollution in India’s cleanest city.
In the survey, Indore, Madhya Pradesh’s commercial capital, scored 197 out of 200 in the category of cities with a population of over 1 million, while Lucknow ranked first with 198 points.
Jabalpur ranked third with 195 points, while Bhopal and Agra tied for fourth with 192 points each.
Indore, which topped the list with a score of 200 out of 200 in the 2025 survey, fell just one point short of Lucknow and failed to retain its position.
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