When Dainik Bhaskar published a headline on September 10 declaring “Indore Number 1 in Clean Air Nationally, Bhopal Sixth,” it sparked a crucial question: Is Indore truly the country’s cleanest air city? The answer reveals a complex story of remarkable progress overshadowed by persistent challenges.
Story Behind the Headlines
Indore’s first-place ranking in the National Clean Air Programme survey represents something far more nuanced than having the nation’s cleanest air. The commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh earned this distinction by securing a perfect score of 200 out of 200 points, but not for air quality itself rather for its exceptional efforts in combating pollution over the past five years.
The ranking emerges from a survey of 130 cities that have consistently underperformed against National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) since 2019. These cities were specifically selected for the National Clean Air Programme launched by the central government with ambitious targets: achieving 15-20% air quality improvement by 2024 and 40% by 2026.
Within this context, Indore’s triumph becomes clearer. The city demonstrated the most effective implementation of policy measures, technological solutions, and environmental initiatives among its peers—all cities struggling with pollution challenges.
Progress Amid Persistent Problems
Despite topping the survey, Indore’s air quality remains far from ideal. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) typically hovers around 100, which international standards classify as moderate to poor. According to the World Health Organization, healthy AQI levels should range between 0-50.
A Ground Report analysis conducted in April revealed concerning trends. Since April 1, Indore’s AQI hasn’t dropped below 100. On April 9, it spiked to a dangerous 236—a level posing health risks to everyone, not just sensitive groups. Real-time monitoring at Chhoti Gwaltoli showed AQI readings of 158 on one Monday, following 147 the previous day. The last safe reading was recorded on March 16, meaning every subsequent day registered unhealthy air levels.
Health experts warn that AQI levels above 100 can harm children, elderly individuals, and respiratory patients, while levels exceeding 200 may affect even healthy people. Pollution Control Board officials attribute this deterioration to multiple factors: stubble burning along city borders, increasing vehicle numbers, rising temperatures, large-scale construction activities, and insufficient wind to disperse pollutants from the breathing zone.
Systematic Solutions Drive Recognition
Indore earned its top ranking through comprehensive, systematic approaches to air quality improvement. The city implements daily morning water sprinkling across roads, regular machine-based street cleaning, and has covered over 300 construction sites to prevent dust dispersion. Public transportation has been revolutionized with 180 CNG buses and 70 electric buses operating throughout the city.
The municipal corporation’s commitment extends beyond immediate measures. Last year, Indore planted over 1.6 million trees, earning a Guinness World Record. The city now operates 120 electric buses and 150 CNG buses for public transportation, demonstrating a genuine shift toward sustainable mobility solutions.
These initiatives represent innovative approaches to dust control, green area expansion, and emission reduction strategies that other cities can replicate and adapt to their specific contexts.
Bhopal, a Different Trajectories
Madhya Pradesh’s two major cities often face comparison, with conventional wisdom suggesting Bhopal enjoys cleaner air due to greater greenery. While partially true, recent trends show Bhopal’s green cover decreasing as Indore’s increases.
Bhopal scored 191 points in the survey, indicating ongoing improvement efforts but revealing persistent challenges. Waste burning continues in areas like Adampur Khanti, contributing to air pollution. Despite receiving Rs. 242.56 crore under the National Clean Air Programme over six years and spending Rs. 195.01 crore, Bhopal’s PM10 levels improved only marginally from 112 in 2017 to 110 in 2025.
Broader Program Success
The National Clean Air Programme has mobilized unprecedented resources, with the government allocating Rs. 20,130 crore to 130 cities and providing Rs. 13,237 crore as Air Quality Performance-linked grants since 2019-20. Through convergence with schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, Smart City Mission, SATAT, FAME-II, and Nagar Van Yojana, total financial mobilization reached Rs. 1.55 lakh crore across participating cities.
Results show 103 out of 130 cities demonstrating PM10 level improvements. Sixty-four cities achieved 20% reductions in PM10 levels by 2024-25 compared to 2017-18 baselines, while 25 cities reached the 40% reduction target ahead of schedule.
Alongside Indore’s category leadership, Jabalpur secured second place with 199 points, implementing an 11-megawatt waste-to-energy plant and expanding green cover. In the category for cities with populations under 5 lakh, Dewas claimed first position with 193 points by encouraging industries to adopt cleaner fuels.
The Path Forward
Indore’s story illustrates that environmental progress requires sustained commitment rather than quick fixes. While the city isn’t India’s cleanest air destination, it has become the most effective among polluted cities in implementing comprehensive improvement strategies.
The recognition serves as validation for systematic approaches combining policy implementation, technological innovation, and community engagement. As other cities learn from Indore’s blueprint through the newly released Compendium of Best Practices, the National Clean Air Programme continues evolving toward its ambitious 2026 targets.
Indore’s achievement reminds us that environmental success isn’t measured solely by current conditions but by the trajectory of improvement and commitment to sustained action.
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