IISc Review Flags Flaws in Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan, Urges Scrapping Ranking Framework
A technical review by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has called for the scrapping and roll-back of the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan ranking framework, saying it contains major discrepancies in approach and methodology.
The report, titled 'Analysis of the Framework of Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan', was prepared by Prof. Ashish Verma of the IISc Sustainable Transport Lab (IST Lab), Department of Civil Engineering. Prof. Verma has also written to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav, stating that the review found a stark gap between administrative scores and ground realities.
According to the letter, top-ranking cities such as Lucknow scored nearly 198 out of 200 even as the city recorded very poor air quality, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 374 in December 2025. The letter said a significant discrepancy is evident between the marks claimed and actual conditions across participating urban local bodies (ULBs).
It added that local media reports indicated road conditions did not match the marks claimed or awarded to the top three cities in Category 1. It also said that official data available on government websites suggested the marks claimed or awarded to ULBs would be much lower than the reported figures.
Prof. Verma said the framework suffers from critical flaws and vulnerabilities. These include structural conflicts of interest in which ULBs act as self-assessors, misaligned weightings, the omission of key emission sources such as agricultural burning and secondary PM2.5, and a complete oversight of the scientifically robust AQI.
The review has suggested that if the ministry wishes to retain the existing framework, it should be renamed the Swachh Vayu Action Plan Implementation Rankings. This, it said, would accurately reflect checklist execution rather than actual air quality outcomes.
Prof. Verma recommended that a rigorous new framework be developed. It should feature third-party field audits, satellite data cross-checks and citizen participation, while prioritising real-world outcomes. Any future evaluation should ensure that ambient AQI performance carries at least 50 per cent weight, the letter stated.
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan is a ranking exercise for cities and urban local bodies on air quality management. The IISc review raises questions about how such rankings are calculated, verified and used to inform public policy. It also points to the need for independent verification and transparent data so that citizens can trust the scores awarded to their cities.
Air pollution remains a major public health and environmental challenge in many Indian cities. Rankings can influence administrative priorities, funding and public perception. When scores do not reflect on-ground air quality, they risk weakening the credibility of clean air programmes and diverting attention from measures that actually reduce emissions.
The report's recommendations, if accepted, would mark a shift from self-reported compliance to independent, outcome-based assessment. The letter has been sent to the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
