GUWAHATI | Guwahati has been recognised as Assam’s first ‘Swachh City’ under the Union government’s Swachh Survekshan 2025-26, marking a significant achievement for the city in the national urban cleanliness assessment.

President Droupadi Murmu presented the award at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday. Assam Urban Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai and Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Mayor Mrigen Sarania received the honour on behalf of the city.

Sharing the news on social media, Rai said he was privileged to receive the recognition from the President. He dedicated the achievement to sanitation workers, government officials, municipal employees and residents who have contributed to Guwahati’s cleanliness initiatives.

The minister also acknowledged the contributions of the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs and other line departments, describing the recognition as the outcome of collective efforts to make Guwahati cleaner and more sustainable. He said the achievement reflected the state government’s commitment to improving urban sanitation under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The award-receiving delegation also included Kavitha Padmanabhan, Commissioner and Secretary of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department, and GMC Commissioner Chinmoy Phookan. The recognition comes as part of the 10th edition of Swachh Survekshan, the annual urban cleanliness assessment conducted by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Guwahati had earlier received the ‘Promising Swachh Shehar’ recognition in the previous edition of the survey, held in July 2025. North Lakhimpur was also recognised in that category. The latest award marks a step forward for Guwahati in the national cleanliness rankings and places greater emphasis on sustaining improvements in waste management, sanitation and public hygiene.