The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has officially pivoted the focus of the Swachh Survekshan 2025–26 survey, placing unprecedented weight on wastewater management and sewage metrics. This shift signals a transition from "ODF" (Open Defecation Free) status toward comprehensive "Water Plus" urban resilience.
Under the new evaluation framework, Indian cities will no longer be judged solely on door-to-door waste collection or beautification. Instead, a significant portion of the total marks is now tied to how effectively a city manages its liquid waste and treats its sewage before it enters natural water bodies.
New Evaluation Parameters The 2025–26 survey introduces several rigorous sub-parameters:
Sewage Network Coverage: Rewarding cities that have expanded underground sewer lines to 100% of their urban wards.
Wastewater Reuse: Points are specifically allocated for cities that can demonstrate that a minimum percentage of treated sewage is being reused for industrial or horticultural purposes.
Citizen Participation: Real-time feedback from residents regarding the cleanliness of public toilets and the absence of open drains will carry higher weightage than in previous years.
The "No Extension" Policy In a move to instill fiscal and operational discipline, authorities have confirmed there will be no extension of deadlines for data submission. Cities like Jaipur and Indore, traditionally frontrunners in the rankings, are reportedly accelerating their STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) upgrades to meet the new wastewater benchmarks.
By integrating water metrics into the world’s largest sanitation survey, the government aims to create a competitive environment that treats urban water management as a core pillar of public health. As the survey enters its final phase of data collection, the emphasis remains clear: a truly "Clean City" must also be a "Water-Wise City."