Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 kicks off September 17 with focus on youth and collective action

The annual Swachhata Hi Seva campaign will begin on September 17, with the 2026 edition placing students and young people at the centre of efforts to build lasting cleanliness habits, the Union government announced at a curtain-raiser event in New Delhi.

The theme for this year, 'Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat', reflects the idea that cleanliness is a shared responsibility and that a clean and developed India can only be achieved through the participation of all citizens. The campaign's theme, logo, brochure and portal were launched at the event, along with an anthem and a curtain-raiser video.

Addressing the media interaction, Union Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil said cleanliness has grown into a national movement driven by public participation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He urged citizens, especially students and youth, to join the campaign in large numbers. He cited the example of a micro cleanliness drive in Navsari villages ahead of the Prime Minister's visit, and Surat's prompt cleanup after Ganpati idol immersion last year, where people came together to support and felicitate sanitation workers.

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, in a virtual message, asked states to ensure enthusiastic participation. He suggested citizens begin by cleaning their own homes on September 17, and called on ministers, MLAs, mayors, deputy mayors, ward councillors, commissioners and prominent personalities to take part in a nationwide shramdaan on October 1. He also urged that cleanliness drives at public places be held on October 2, observed as Swachh Bharat Diwas, in remembrance of Mahatma Gandhi, and appealed to students, youth, sportspersons, artists and spiritual leaders to use their platforms to encourage wider participation.

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said the message of cleanliness would be effective only when government offices and institutions set an example. He called for visible cleanliness in offices, premises and subordinate units alongside citizen mobilisation, describing the effort as a 'Whole of Government' and 'Whole of Society' approach. Every urban local body, gram panchayat, ward, institution and community should be connected to the campaign, he said.

The campaign is jointly organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Department of Urban Development under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It brings together central ministries and departments, states and union territories, rural and urban local bodies, and other stakeholders.

Five key pillars will shape this year's activities. The first focuses on identifying, mapping and transforming difficult and dirty spots, along with cleanliness drives at Cleanliness Target Units and high-footfall public places. The second, Swachh Paathshala- Yuva for Swachhata, involves students and youth through 'Swachhata Gyan Yatra' exposure visits to solid waste management facilities and 'Swachhata Evam Jal Sanchay Samvad' sessions covering cleanliness, rainwater harvesting and water management.

The third pillar comprises SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivirs, single-window camps offering health check-ups, personal protective equipment and safety gear, and linkages to eligible central and state welfare schemes. Safai Mitras, Swachhagrahis and sanitation workers will also be felicitated locally. The fourth, Jan Bhagidari for Swachhata, covers citizen engagement, awareness of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 and four-way source segregation and composting, along with activities such as Sports for Swachhata, Swachh Parv and Harit Parv, plantation drives under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', World Tourism Day activities on September 27, and special gram sabhas and council meetings on October 2. The fifth pillar, Swachhata se Samriddhi, promotes circularity through waste-to-wealth and waste-to-art initiatives, donation and reduce-reuse-recycle drives for old books, toys and clothes, and plastic recycling melas involving bulk waste generators.

A nationwide shramdaan titled 'Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath' will be held on October 1 from 8 am to 9 am, with citizens contributing an hour of voluntary cleanliness service. On October 2, special gram sabhas will be held in rural areas and special council meetings in urban areas, focusing on the outcomes of the campaign and awareness of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The Swachh Seva Aankalan launched by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation on September 15 will also be discussed at the gram sabhas. Plantation drives will be conducted in cities and villages, and citizens will be able to take a cleanliness pledge voluntarily through the MyGov platform.

Citizens and organisations have been encouraged to share their activities using the hashtags #SHS2026 and #SwachhataHiSeva2026.