The number of cities with Water+ status jumped from two in 2023 to 16 in 2024, showcasing enhanced wastewater management. Similarly, ODF++ certified cities increased from 129 to 337, reflecting improved fecal sludge and septage management.

Uttar Pradesh also enhanced its performance in GFC ratings. Lucknow achieved 7-star status, while six cities earned 5-star ratings. Overall, the state saw an increase of 18 GFCs, bringing the total to 83.

In the million-plus cities category, Lucknow ranked in the Top 3 nationally, with other cities also performing well. Gorakhpur and Moradabad performed well in the cities with 3-10 lakh population category. In smaller towns, Bijnor and Anupshehar also secured good rankings. According to the Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister, Lucknow’s performance is particularly noteworthy, improving its ranking by 41 points.