♦ The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) announced the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 awards. This recognition is part of the National Mission for Clean Air. “Swachh Vayu Survekshan” is an initiative by MoEF&CC to rank cities based on the implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in 130 NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) cities.

♦ Surat, Jabalpur and Agra, cities with populations of over 1 million, have topped the Swachh Vayu Survekshan (clean air survey) Awards for clean air.

♦ In the category for populations between 300,000 and 1 million, Firozabad, Amravati and Jhansi were recognised as the top three and for cities with fewer than 300,000 people, the toppers were Raebareli, Nalgonda and Nalagarh.

♦ The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) reported that 51 cities have shown a reduction in PM10 levels by more than 20% compared to the base year 2017-18, with 21 of these cities achieving a reduction of over 40%.