Patna: Patna has moved into second place across India in the ongoing Swachh Survekshan 2026, as residents continue to participate in large numbers in the central government’s annual cleanliness assessment. The latest data shows around 4.5 lakh people from the city have already submitted their views on sanitation, waste collection and civic services. The high response has made Patna one of the most active cities in the country, and officials believe this strong public participation could improve the city’s final ranking when the results are announced.
The survey, organised under the Swachh Bharat Mission, asks residents to share feedback on everyday civic issues such as garbage collection, street cleanliness, public toilets and waste disposal. According to the latest figures, Indore remains in first place with more than 6.8 lakh feedback entries, while Patna stands second with over 4.49 lakh. Lucknow, Prayagraj and Agra follow behind. Officials say the number of citizen responses has become an important factor in the survey and directly affects the overall score of a city.
To encourage more people to take part, Patna Municipal Corporation has formed 13 teams that are visiting different parts of the city. These teams include senior officers, employees and consultants who are helping people understand how to fill out the survey online. They have been reaching out to residents at railway stations, parks, shopping areas, slum settlements and busy public intersections. One of the strongest responses has come from students living in coaching hubs such as Boring Road, Musallahpur Haat, Bazar Samiti and Ashok Rajpath, where many filled out the survey immediately after being guided by volunteers.
The citizen questionnaire includes 13 questions covering daily waste collection, separation of dry and wet waste, cleanliness of streets, condition of public toilets and awareness about recycling centres. People are also asked how they report civic complaints and whether those complaints are resolved quickly. The survey can be completed online through the official portal using a mobile number and OTP verification, and only one response is allowed per phone number. During the next phase, central inspection teams may visit neighbourhoods and ask residents the same questions again as part of on-ground verification.
The survey carries a total of 12,500 marks, of which citizen feedback contributes 1,000 points. The remaining score comes from field inspection and certification standards such as garbage-free city status and open-defecation-free ratings. Officials in Patna say improving the city’s ranking depends not only on the municipal corporation but also on public cooperation. Residents have been asked to maintain cleanliness in their homes and neighbourhoods, separate household waste and avoid throwing garbage in open areas. The corporation says complaints related to sanitation, drains and public toilets can be filed through its toll-free helpline and WhatsApp service, as it tries to turn the current survey campaign into a long-term change in the city’s cleanliness habits.
