Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar 5.0: 15 Lakh Take Ocean Pledge

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on 21 September 2026 reviewed the just-concluded 'Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar' 5.0, the fifth edition of India's nationwide coastal clean-up campaign, and praised the scale of public participation. The review took place at the monthly meeting of the scientific Ministries and Departments, which he chaired.

The campaign in numbers

The name means "Clean Sea, Safe Sea". Citizens, students, coastal communities, government agencies, scientific institutions and volunteers joined the drive, which the Minister wanted to see carried forward by linking scientific awareness with environmental responsibility and citizen action. Marine litter, much of it plastic, harms fish, turtles and seabirds and ends up in the food chain, which is why coastal clean-ups are a recurring theme in environment questions.

Other decisions at the review

• City-based scientific clusters: Dr Jitendra Singh called for clusters that bring together institutions working in related fields in the same city, and for closer coordination among the science Ministries.
• Digital Library of Scientific Achievements: a proposed common repository of videos and other material on the work of India's scientific institutions. CSIR-NIScPR is the nodal institution for building it.
• 'Vigyan Ki Baat': a monthly lecture series launched by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) to showcase India's autonomous scientific institutions. The first edition, on 29 August 2026, drew more than 7,500 participants. The second, on 26 September 2026, will feature the Director of the S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences and focus on foundational physical sciences and quantum technology.
• CSIR@85: preparations for the programme on 25 September 2026, and updates on ESTIC-2026, were also reviewed.

Who attended

The meeting was attended by the Principal Scientific Adviser, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Secretaries of the Departments of Biotechnology, Science & Technology and Scientific & Industrial Research, the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and the CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).