Lucknow: Under CM Yogi’s leadership, Uttar Pradesh’s efforts to transform school infrastructure through cleanliness, environmental stewardship and sustainable practices have received national recognition, with 11 schools from the state securing places in the Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya Rating (SHVR) 2025-26 rankings. These rankings were released by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education. The achievement shows Uttar Pradesh’s growing focus on providing clean, safe and environmentally friendly school campuses. Most of the selected institutions are government schools under the Basic Education Department, highlighting the positive impact of ongoing efforts to improve school infrastructure and learning environments.
Of the 11 schools from Uttar Pradesh featured in the national rankings, six are government schools, while two are Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs). The remaining institutions include a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, an Air Force School and a private school.
Among government institutions, Primary School Italia Mafi in Sambhal emerged as the state’s highest-ranked government school, securing the 12th position nationally. Other schools that earned places in the national list include:
Primary School Chokhapur, Pilibhit – Rank 25
PMV Kanya Ganchapa, Chitrakoot – Rank 27
Primary School Sahajni, Bareilly – Rank 29
Composite School Aamgaon, Badaun – Rank 36
Upper Primary School Kutubpur Labdaula, Saharanpur – Rank 55
The performance of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas was equally impressive. KGBV Hariharpur Rani in Shravasti secured Rank 9, while KGBV Konch in Jalaun achieved Rank 14 at the national level. Air Force School, Manauri (Prayagraj), and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Gajokhar (Varanasi), also featured in the national rankings, securing 31st and 46th positions respectively. In the private school category, Dayawati Modi Academy -1, Meerut, delivered an outstanding performance by securing 4th rank nationally.
Recognition for Sustainable School Ecosystems
The Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya Rating is a nationwide assessment framework designed to encourage schools to adopt environmentally responsible practices while ensuring safe and healthy campuses for students. Schools are evaluated on multiple indicators, including:
Cleanliness and sanitation facilities
Water conservation measures
Solid and liquid waste management
Energy-efficient infrastructure
Green campus development
Community participation and awareness initiatives
Rather than focusing solely on infrastructure, the rating system also measures how effectively schools integrate sustainability into daily operations and student engagement activities.
The selection process involved several stages of evaluation. Schools first conducted self-assessments through the dedicated SHVR digital portal. These submissions were subsequently verified at district and state levels, followed by detailed scrutiny of the highest-scoring institutions. The use of a technology-driven evaluation mechanism ensured transparency and objective assessment throughout the process. Only schools meeting stringent quality benchmarks were included in the final national rankings.
Nationwide, 191 schools earned recognition under the SHVR 2025-26 ratings. From Uttar Pradesh, 20 top-performing schools were initially shortlisted and nominated for national evaluation, with 11 ultimately securing a place in the final list. The SHVR framework encourages schools to adopt long-term sustainability practices rather than focusing solely on infrastructure development.
Education officials are of the belief that the achievement shows the cumulative impact of various initiatives undertaken across Uttar Pradesh in recent years. They attribute much of the progress to the UP’s school transformation efforts under Mission Kayakalp, which focuses on improving basic infrastructure and cleanliness standards in government schools. Regular cleanliness campaigns, plantation drives, water-saving activities, improved sanitation facilities and infrastructure enhancement programmes have contributed significantly to creating healthier educational environments. Welcoming this achievement, the Senior Construction Expert Shyam Kishore Tiwari said it was the result of coordinated efforts by teachers, students, school management bodies and the education department. The continuous investments in cleanliness, greenery and basic infrastructure are helping government schools evolve into model institutions.
The recognition also highlights the increasing role of School Management Committees, local communities, teachers and students in maintaining school campuses and promoting environmental awareness. To encourage similar efforts across the state, the government plans to felicitate the 20 schools that secured top positions in the state-level rankings. The objective is to encourage the adoption of best practices and motivate more institutions to improve their performance in areas related to sustainability and campus management. The achievement demonstrates how government schools in Uttar Pradesh under CM Yogi are increasingly combining academic development with environmental responsibility.
