Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 Campaign: Theme, Dates and Pillars

The nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 campaign is under way, and ministries across the government have begun their activities under it. The campaign is jointly organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and it seeks to strengthen collective participation and volunteerism for cleanliness.

Theme and duration

This year's theme is 'Swachhata Mein Sahbhag, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat'. The Ministry of Textiles has said the campaign is being observed across its organisations from 17 September to 2 October 2026. The theme presents cleanliness as a collective effort and as a festival of community involvement, and the campaign as a whole aims at behavioural and cultural change rather than one-off cleaning drives.

Department of Food and Public Distribution

The Department of Food and Public Distribution has started the campaign with its public sector undertakings and attached offices, following the guidelines of the Department of Urban Development and the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Secretary Sanjeev Chopra administered the Swachhata pledge at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, followed by a cleanliness drive. The Department also held a slogan competition and a workshop for Safai Mitras on their wellbeing, health and social security, which form one of the six pillars of the campaign.

Activities across organisations

• Central Warehousing Corporation held cleanliness and beautification drives in Delhi and a painting competition at a school
• The Food Corporation of India began with the Swachhata pledge at its headquarters, regional and district offices and depots, and organised health check-up camps for Safai Mitras and their families
• Quality Control Cell offices held oath-taking ceremonies under Pillar-2, 'Swachh Paathshala - Yuva for Swachhata'
• The National Sugar Institute, Kanpur, and the Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute took the pledge and ran awareness programmes
• The Ministry of Textiles held a thematic art poster competition and set up standees and selfie points in offices

Health camp for Safai Mitras

Under the 'SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivirs' component of the campaign, a preventive health check-up and consultation camp was organised at the National Media Centre, New Delhi, for officers and Safai Mitras of the Press Information Bureau, Delhi. It was held with Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, whose team of doctors examined and advised the participants.