What happened
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal on 29 September 2026 launched PRAGATI-50 — a Model City Framework for 50 cities across 24 States/UTs of economic, cultural, heritage, pilgrimage, tourism and administrative significance. The aim is to make them clean role-model cities with visible gains in solid waste, used-water management, sanitation and citizen participation, under a timed monitoring framework. The list covers nearly all State capitals plus major tourist/pilgrimage centres and 76 municipal areas including all municipal areas in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
Background
The push follows the Prime Minister’s challenge at the monthly PRAGATI meeting on 27 May for the ministry to make 50 cities fully clean under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 — from garbage-free status to processing all solid and liquid waste. Progress will be reviewed through outcome assessments; the Minister will chair periodic reviews.
Why it matters for exams
- Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 and PRAGATI are frequent UPSC GS-II/III topics
- Numbers (50 cities, 24 States/UTs, 76 municipal areas) are classic prelims bait
- Links urban governance with Mission-mode monitoring
Key facts for exams
- Ministry: Housing and Urban Affairs; Minister Manohar Lal
- Initiative: PRAGATI-50 Model City Framework
- Coverage: 50 cities / 24 States & UTs; 76 municipal areas
- Focus: Visible cleanliness, solid & used-water management, sanitation, citizen participation
- Parent mission: Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0
Practice MCQs
Q1. PRAGATI-50 aims to develop how many clean role-model cities?
- 24
- 50
- 76
- 100
Answer: B. Fifty cities across 24 States/UTs.
Q2. Which Union Minister launched PRAGATI-50 in September 2026?
- Hardeep Puri
- Manohar Lal
- Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
- Bhupender Yadav
Answer: B. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal.
Q3. PRAGATI-50 is linked primarily to which urban mission?
- AMRUT 2.0
- Smart Cities Mission
- Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0
- PMAY-U
Answer: C. It advances SBM-U 2.0 cleanliness goals.
Source: News on AIR / Akashvani (29 Sep 2026); Times of India (29 Sep 2026).