Published: 11 July 2026Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Science & Technology)Environment
Science Ministries Gear Up for Nationwide 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' Coastal Cleanliness Campaign, 10-19 September 2026
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Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, chaired a high-level review meeting of the Science Ministries at the CSIR-Science Centre, New Delhi, to prepare for the nationwide 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' coastal cleanliness campaign, scheduled from 10 to 19 September 2026. Expected to be one of India's largest coastal cleanliness drives, it will bring together scientific institutions, government agencies, volunteers, educational institutions and local communities. The meeting also reviewed DST, CSIR, DBT and ANRF outreach plans and preparations for ESTIC-2026, IISF 2026 and National Space Day 2026.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, chaired a high-level review meeting of Secretaries and senior officials of the Science Ministries and Departments at the CSIR-Science Centre, New Delhi. The meeting centred on preparations for the nationwide 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' coastal cleanliness campaign, to be organised across the country's coastline from 10 to 19 September 2026. Dr. Jitendra Singh, who is also Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, said scientific institutions must work in close partnership to combine technological innovation, public participation and inter-departmental collaboration, and must function as an integrated ecosystem rather than as isolated institutions.
The campaign is expected to be one of the country's largest coastal cleanliness drives, bringing together scientific institutions, government agencies, volunteers, educational institutions and local communities, and pairing environmental conservation with public awareness and community participation.
The meeting was attended by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood; Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare; Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale; and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi.
DST presented an outreach plan covering the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the National Quantum Mission, the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and the Research Development and Innovation Scheme. DSIR informed that CSIR is preparing a comprehensive publication documenting its major achievements of the past twelve years, for release during CSIR Foundation Day later this year. DBT shared that it is conducting the nationwide #DBT Quest public engagement campaign and has launched thematic publications on public health, bioeconomy, genomics, agricultural biotechnology and biotechnology start-ups.
Progress on collaborative programmes involving CSIR, ISRO, DST, DBT and BARC was reviewed, along with wider adoption of the ANRF's SARAL_AI platform and preparations for ESTIC-2026, the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2026 and National Space Day 2026.
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With reference to the 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' coastal cleanliness campaign reviewed by the Science Ministries in July 2026, consider the following statements:
1. The campaign is scheduled to be organised across the country's coastline from 10 to 19 September 2026.
2. The high-level review meeting on the campaign was chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
3. The Department of Science and Technology's outreach plan covers the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the National Quantum Mission.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation · Correct answer CStatements 1 and 3 are correct; statement 2 is not.
Statement 1 is correct: the 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' campaign is scheduled across the country's coastline from 10 to 19 September 2026.
Statement 2 is incorrect: the high-level review meeting at the CSIR-Science Centre, New Delhi, was chaired by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences. Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, attended the meeting but did not chair it.
Statement 3 is correct: DST presented an outreach plan covering the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the National Quantum Mission, the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and the Research Development and Innovation Scheme.
Hence, option C is the answer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' campaign and when will it be held?
It is a nationwide coastal cleanliness campaign to be organised across the country's coastline from 10 to 19 September 2026. It seeks to combine environmental conservation with public awareness and community participation, and is expected to be one of the country's largest coastal cleanliness drives.
Who chaired the high-level review meeting on the campaign?
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, chaired the meeting at the CSIR-Science Centre, New Delhi.
Which senior officials attended the meeting?
Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood; DST Secretary Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare; DBT Secretary Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale; and Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary of DSIR and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, along with senior officials of the concerned scientific departments and organisations.
Which flagship initiatives did DST's outreach plan cover?
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), the National Quantum Mission, the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and the Research Development and Innovation Scheme, among other major national programmes.
Which upcoming national scientific events were reviewed at the meeting?
Preparations for ESTIC-2026, the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2026 and National Space Day 2026 were reviewed, along with institutional readiness and outreach plans for broad participation by researchers, industry, start-ups, students and the public.
