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Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 to run from 17 September to 17 October — UPSC Current Affairs 2026

Schemes & Committees10 Sept 2026

Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 to run from 17 September to 17 October

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Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal reviewed State and UT preparedness for Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026, to be observed from 17 September to 17 October 2026.
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The theme is 'Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat', with focus areas spanning Cleanliness Target Units, Swachh Paathshala, SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivirs, Jan Bhagidari and Swachhata se Samriddhi.
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A nationwide Shramdaan, 'Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath', is planned for 1 October, with Swachh Bharat Diwas drives and 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation on 2 October.

●Swachhata Hi Seva 2026: observed 17 September to 17 October 2026; theme 'Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat'.
●The campaign has run annually since 2017 and is conducted jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
●Focus areas per the release: Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs) and high-footfall public places, Swachh Paathshala - Yuva for Swachhata, SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivirs, Jan Bhagidari for Swachhata, and Swachhata se Samriddhi (circular economy and Waste-to-Wealth).
●Dates flagged in the campaign calendar: 25 September (Deendayal Upadhyaya's birth anniversary), 1 October nationwide Shramdaan 'Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath', 2 October Swachh Bharat Diwas with 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' plantation, and 7 October special programmes.
●Parent mission: Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, launched on 1 October 2021 for five years with an outlay of Rs 1,41,600 crore, targeting Garbage Free status for all cities through 100% source segregation and scientific waste management.
●Swachh Survekshan, the world's largest urban cleanliness survey, is now in its 10th edition and scores cities on ODF, ODF Plus, ODF Plus Plus, Water Plus and Garbage Free City certifications.
●ODF Plus certification: awarded to an urban local body that sustains open-defecation-free status and additionally manages its solid or liquid waste — a step beyond bare ODF.

Exam Relevance

upsc

GS Paper 2 > Governance > Government schemes and interventions in urban sanitation

Expected Questions

★State the launch date, duration and outlay of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and the ministry that runs it.

Key Terms

Swachhata Hi Seva

Annual cleanliness mobilisation campaign running since 2017, conducted jointly by MoHUA and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

ODF Plus

Certification for an urban local body that sustains open-defecation-free status and also manages its solid or liquid waste.

priority_highMust Remember

•SHS 2026 runs 17 September to 17 October 2026; theme 'Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat'.
•SBM-Urban 2.0 — launched 1 October 2021 alongside AMRUT 2.0, five-year duration, outlay Rs 1,41,600 crore, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
•Swachh Survekshan is in its 10th edition and is the world's largest urban cleanliness survey.

tips_and_updatesExam Tips

•Do not attribute Swachhata Hi Seva to MoHUA alone — the urban and rural arms run it jointly, the rural half sitting under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

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