Tiruchi tops State, slips to 12th nationally in clean air survey
Tiruchi has been ranked first in Tamil Nadu but 12th nationally in the 2026 Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan air quality survey. While the city has shown progress in reducing PM10 concentrations, officials note that further improvements are needed in waste management.
Why it matters
It reflects the effectiveness of national environmental initiatives in improving urban air quality and public health standards.
Tiruchi has secured the first position among cities in Tamil Nadu in the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026, a national-level assessment of efforts to improve air quality. The city, however, slipped to the 12th position nationally among cities with a population of over 10 lakh, compared with ninth place in the previous year.
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan is conducted under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), an initiative of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to assess and encourage sustained efforts to improve air quality in cities across the country.
This year’s assessment covered 130 cities, including 48 cities with a population of more than 10 lakh. Tiruchi secured an overall score of 183 out of 200, placing it 12th. In the 2025 survey, the city had scored 186 points and secured ninth rank.
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