Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 5.0 Launched

• The fifth edition will run as a week-long nationwide campaign from September 12–19, 2026.
• Beach clean-up drives will be organised across more than 100 locations.
• The campaign will feature an Ocean Olympiad, rallies, marathons and citizen activities.
• Citizens, students, coastal communities and organisations are being encouraged to join the movement.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st Sept: Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh has launched the fifth edition of ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 2026’, positioning the campaign as a nationwide people’s movement for ocean conservation and cleaner beaches.

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, will be held from September 12 to 19, 2026. It seeks to bring together citizens, students, youth, coastal communities, volunteers and NGOs under the banner of Jan Bhagidari.

Launching the campaign, Dr Jitendra Singh said the initiative has grown into a people’s movement over the past four years. He highlighted India’s more than 11,000-km coastline and called for wider public participation in protecting the country’s marine environment.

Nationwide activities planned
The week-long campaign will feature major beach clean-up drives at more than 100 locations, along with an ocean pledge, human chains, cycling rallies, marathons and other citizen engagement activities.

A key new feature this year is the first national Ocean Olympiad, aimed at encouraging environmental awareness and ocean conservation among students and young people.

The campaign will also include activities linked to Ozone Day and other programmes promoting awareness about the importance of healthy marine ecosystems.

Call for greater public participation
Dr Jitendra Singh urged citizens to take the ocean conservation pledge and participate in the India Coastal Cleanup initiative.

He encouraged families, schools, colleges, organisations and communities to join the campaign and make ocean conservation a sustained public movement.

The Minister said the initiative is inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Deep Ocean Mission, with the objective of building greater public awareness and collective responsibility for protecting India’s oceans and coastline.

As part of the launch, the government unveiled the SSSS 5.0 website, official ocean conservation pledge, introductory video and activity schedule video.