The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, along with the Ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, has launched Special Campaign 6.0, an annual drive that combines workplace cleanliness with administrative reform and resource management. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated the implementation phase on 2 October 2026, marking the expansion of what began as a sanitation initiative into a wider movement for institutional efficiency and responsible waste handling.
The campaign runs from 2 October to 31 October 2026 across government offices. It focuses on clearing redundant files, disposing of e-waste and obsolete equipment, freeing up office space, and reducing administrative pendency. More than 100 science institutions have joined the drive, which extends across research councils, universities and Earth Sciences agencies across the country.
Key facts
- Campaign period: 2 October to 31 October 2026
- ₹5,102.91 crore generated from e-waste and scrap disposal over five years
- 1,049.54 lakh square feet of office space freed in five years
- 180.48 lakh files closed or weeded out in previous campaigns
- 24.20 lakh cleanliness sites identified and cleaned across the country
- 705 items of obsolete equipment identified at Ministry of Earth Sciences alone for disposal
- Over 100 science institutions participating this year
How the campaign has evolved
Special Campaign began in 2014 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for cleanliness but has progressively broadened in scope. What started as a focus on sanitation and toilet construction in government offices has transformed into a systematic annual exercise targeting accumulated files, redundant furniture, and electronic waste. Each successive campaign has added new dimensions.
The exercise now addresses electronic waste and digital records alongside physical materials. Government offices have used the campaign to dispose of e-files, obsolete computers, and discarded equipment that occupy valuable space without serving a purpose. This shift reflects changes in how government workplaces operate in an increasingly digital era.
Financial and space benefits
Over the past five years, the disposal of e-waste and scrap has generated ₹5,102.91 crore for the government exchequer. Simultaneously, more than 1,049.54 lakh square feet of office space has been cleared and made available for productive use. Government offices have used this freed space to create green areas, restore blocked sections, and improve working conditions.
The revenue generated comes from the sale of salvageable materials and metals recovered from electronic waste. This dual benefit of creating financial value while reclaiming usable workspace demonstrates how administrative efficiency can also serve fiscal interests.
Scientific institutions and waste-to-wealth technologies
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences are leading the campaign across India’s research ecosystem. More than 100 science institutions commenced activities on 2 October.
The campaign also highlights India’s Waste-to-Wealth initiative, which moves beyond mere disposal of waste materials. CSIR has developed and transferred technologies for converting waste into useful products: municipal solid-waste management systems, plastic waste recycling, recovery of critical metals and rare earth elements from e-waste, lithium-ion battery recycling, conversion of agricultural waste into biodegradable products, and wastewater resource recovery. These technologies have been shared with industry for further application and commercial development.
What this means for you
If you work in a government office or institution, expect Special Campaign 6.0 activities in your workplace during October 2026. This may include disposal of old files, obsolete equipment and e-waste that may free up workspace and improve office conditions. Your institution may honour support staff involved in cleanliness work.
If you are a student or researcher in a science institution, you may see campus-wide cleanliness drives and equipment disposal activities. Your institution may use newly available space for improved facilities or research areas.
Broadly, the campaign underscores the government’s commitment to embedding cleanliness and efficiency into institutional culture rather than treating it as a one-time event. The financial recovery from waste disposal also reduces the fiscal burden of managing government assets.
What happens next
The implementation phase runs through 31 October 2026. Government ministries and departments have a preparatory phase in September and will execute campaign activities in October. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) is the nodal agency overseeing the campaign as a whole-of-government effort with specific targets set for each ministry and department.