Centre to Launch Week-Long ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ Coastal Cleanup Drive from September 12
The week-long coastal cleanup drive will culminate on International Coastal Cleanup Day and cover India’s 11,098-km coastline with participation from Central and state ministries, district administrations, research institutions, local communities,
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh reviews preparations for the 2026 edition of the nationwide “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” (SSSS) campaign, in New Delhi on Saturday.
New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday reviewed preparations for the 2026 edition of the nationwide “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” (SSSS) campaign, which will be conducted from September 12 to 19 across India’s coastline as part of efforts to strengthen marine conservation and coastal cleanliness initiatives.
Chairing a high-level meeting at Prithvi Bhawan, the minister called for seamless coordination among government agencies, scientific institutions, youth organisations, and civil society groups to ensure wider public participation in the campaign.
The week-long coastal cleanup drive will culminate on International Coastal Cleanup Day and cover India’s 11,098-km coastline with participation from Central and state ministries, district administrations, research institutions, local communities, and volunteer organisations.
Senior officials and scientists from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and its affiliated institutions attended the meeting along with representatives from the Indian Coast Guard, Seema Jagran Manch, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi, and VIBHA.
The review meeting also assessed progress of the 2025 campaign coordinated by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR). Officials highlighted the contribution of the Sagar App, a citizen-science platform that has enabled documentation of over 150 tonnes of marine litter from coastal areas.
Jitendra Singh said the campaign, implemented under the PRITHVI scheme, combines scientific monitoring with public participation and supports long-term initiatives related to seawater quality assessment, marine litter management, and mitigation of coastal hazards such as shoreline erosion.
The Minister urged greater participation from NCC, NSS, educational institutions, volunteer networks, and civil society organisations to expand the campaign’s outreach and environmental impact.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a sustainable Blue Economy, Jitendra Singh said India’s coastal conservation initiatives are emerging as a model of community-driven environmental stewardship backed by scientific institutions and technology-enabled citizen participation.
Launched in 2022 as a 75-day inter-ministerial initiative, the “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign focuses on reducing marine litter and improving cleanliness across India’s coastal regions. The campaign has since become an annual nationwide coastal awareness and cleanup programme.
The Minister also reviewed preparations for the upcoming India International Science Festival scheduled to be held in Pune during the third week of December.
Discussions focused on enhancing participation of scientific institutions, innovators, students, startups, and young researchers to strengthen public engagement with science, technology, and innovation across the country.
