Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 5.0 concludes on International Coastal Cleanup Day

The fifth edition of 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' (SSSS 5.0), a nationwide coastal-cleanup and ocean-conservation campaign led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, ran as a week-long drive from 12 to 19 September 2026, culminating on International Coastal Cleanup Day. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh launched this year's edition on 1 September, with cleanup drives held at more than 100 beach locations along India's 11,098-kilometre coastline, alongside human chains, cycling rallies, marathons and other citizen-engagement activities. The campaign is implemented under the Ministry's PRITHVI scheme, and the 2026 edition introduced India's first national Ocean Olympiad for youth, along with a dedicated campaign website and an ocean-conservation pledge portal. First launched in 2022 as a 75-day inter-ministerial initiative, Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar has since been held annually around International Coastal Cleanup Day, drawing participation from government institutions, volunteers, NGOs, students and community organisations.