New Delhi: Indore has once again secured the top spot as India's cleanest city, marking its eighth consecutive win in the Swachh Survekshan Awards. The prestigious announcement was made on Tuesday, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the awards in New Delhi on Thursday.

Following closely, Surat and Navi Mumbai clinched the second and third positions, respectively, in the government's annual cleanliness survey. Last year, Indore and Surat jointly shared the top honours.

The Swachh Survekshan survey is an integral part of the Union government's Swachh Bharat mission, initiated by the Narendra Modi administration. This year's awards ceremony saw 78 accolades distributed across four categories: Super Swachh League Cities, Special Category (encompassing Ganga Towns, Cantonment Boards, SafaiMitra Suraksha, and Mahakumbh), and State Level Awards.

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs highlighted that the awards underscore the crucial theme of reduce, reuse, and recycle. The rigorous assessment involved over 3,000 assessors who conducted inspections nationwide, evaluating more than 11 lakh households.