Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar 5.0
Why in News?
The fifth edition of Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 2026 was launched on 1 September 2026 by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Earth Sciences. The campaign is being conducted nationwide from 12–19 September 2026.
Campaign Structure
- Scale of Operations: Major beach clean-up drives are happening simultaneously across more than 100 locations along India's coastal states and Union Territories.
- Diverse Field Events: Beyond beach cleanups, the movement features widespread community events such as human chains, cycling rallies, marathons, and massive citizen engagement programs.
- Underwater Cleanup: Extending its scope beyond the shoreline, agencies like INCOIS are executing underwater cleaning programs (e.g., at Swaraj Dweep in Sri Vijaya Puram) to directly tackle submerged marine debris.
New Elements Launched in SSSS 5.0
- Ocean Olympiad: The 2026 edition introduces the first-ever national Ocean Olympiad aimed at fostering environmental awareness and science-backed ocean care among students and youth.
- Digital Portals: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled the official SSSS v. 5.0 website, informational videos, and a dedicated portal to track nationwide activities.
- The Swachh Sagar Pledge: A customized digital and physical pledge has been distributed nationwide, allowing government employees, students, and regular citizens to officially commit to eco-friendly marine habits.
Key Objectives & Core Principles
- Three Strategic Pillars: The initiative continues to run on three fundamental behavioural goals:
- Consume Responsibly
- Segregate Waste
- Dispose Responsibly
- Targeting Marine Plastic: A central objective is reducing microplastics and non-biodegradable waste (like fishing nets and bottles) that devastate marine life and coastal biodiversity.
- Jan Bhagidari (People's Participation): The campaign relies heavily on a community-driven approach, bringing together the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), ISRO, NGOs, local fishermen, and thousands of student volunteers.
- Origin: The campaign originally started in July 2022 as a historic 75-day drive to clean 75 beaches during India's 75th year of independence (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav). It holds the distinction of being one of the world's longest-running and largest coastal cleanup drives.
