The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) have launched Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, a nationwide cleanliness campaign. The campaign was formally started on 17 September 2026 with a tree-planting drive at Children’s Park, India Gate, New Delhi. The initiative brings together government departments, states, urban local bodies, and citizens to advance India’s sanitation goals through collective action.
Campaign structure and focus areas
The 2026 campaign operates under the theme “Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat”, emphasizing that cleanliness is everyone’s shared responsibility. The campaign has five main pillars:
- Cleanliness Target Units: Time-bound clearing and beautification of designated cleanliness zones and public spaces
- Student and youth engagement: Educational visits to waste management facilities through “Swachhata Gyan Yatras” and awareness dialogue sessions
- Sanitation worker support: Single-window health camps offering preventive checkups, social security scheme enrollment, and recognition programmes for sanitation workers
- Community participation: Public awareness on waste management rules, source segregation, sports activities, and clean festival celebrations
- Economic opportunity: Focus on circular economy, waste-to-wealth projects, and waste-to-art initiatives
On 2 October, rural areas will hold special village assemblies and urban areas will hold council meetings. These gatherings will discuss campaign outcomes, waste management rules, source segregation practices, and assess progress toward ODF Plus village status.
What this means for you
If you live in towns or villages, you will likely encounter organized cleanliness activities in your locality as part of this campaign. Students and young people may have opportunities to visit waste management facilities and participate in awareness programmes. Sanitation workers in your area may receive health services and recognition through the initiative. Citizens are being called upon to practice 4-way waste segregation at home and support community-led cleanliness efforts in their neighborhoods.