The Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026 was observed in New Delhi on September 7, 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. The event was organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to highlight India’s ongoing efforts to tackle air pollution and improve air quality across its cities. A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the 5th Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards, which recognised cities and wards that demonstrated strong performance in implementing measures aimed at improving air quality. The assessment covered 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Cities were evaluated through a process involving self-assessment, state-level review, evaluation by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), field verification by independent committees and final selection of the best-performing cities. For the 2026 assessment, the 130 cities were divided into three population-based categories: cities with populations below 3 lakh, cities with populations between 3 lakh and 10 lakh, and cities with populations above 10 lakh. The initiative is intended not simply to measure pollution levels but also to encourage cities to implement practical and sustained measures for controlling pollution from different sources.