Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 5.0: 100+ Coastal Locations, Ocean Olympiad and Citizen-Led Marine Litter Action Environment, Oceans and Public Participation GS Paper III 4 September 2026 Read highlighted facts first FAST READ - read only this box if short on time
- 5th edition of Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar launched by the **Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Campaign period**: 12-19 September 2026.
- Major clean-up drives planned across 100+ locations.
- New feature: first national Ocean Olympiad for students and youth.
- Digital participation includes the SAGAR PRAHARI app and an ocean-conservation pledge platform.
WHY IN NEWS
- The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 5.0 as a nationwide citizen movement for ocean conservation.
- The campaign combines beach clean-ups with youth engagement, public pledges and digital participation.
- The 2026 edition adds the first national Ocean Olympiad, widening the initiative from clean-up activity to ocean literacy.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- Edition: 5th.
- Campaign dates: 12-19 September 2026.
- Lead ministry: Ministry of **Earth Sciences.
- Major beach-clean-up locations**: 100+.
- The campaign began originally in 2022.
- Initial 2022 edition was linked to a 75-day clean-up drive.
- The first campaign targeted 75 beaches.
- 2026 introduces the first national Ocean Olympiad.
- Digital participation includes an official website and pledge platform.
- SAGAR PRAHARI is the campaign's mobile-app component.
- The initiative uses Jan Bhagidari or public participation.
- International Coastal Cleanup Day falls in September each year.
- Marine litter includes plastics, fishing gear and other waste.
- Coastal clean-ups can generate useful data when waste is categorised and recorded.