The Ministry of Earth Sciences has scheduled the fifth edition of Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar from September 12 to 19, 2026. The programme will include large beach-cleaning drives at more than 100 locations, along with citizen pledges, human chains, cycling events, marathons and other activities.
A new feature this year is the first national Ocean Olympiad, intended to bring students and young people into ocean-literacy and conservation activities. The campaign is framed as a public-participation programme rather than a one-day government cleanliness event.
For environmental governance, however, cleanup drives address only the visible end of marine pollution. Durable improvement also depends on municipal solid-waste systems, wastewater treatment, plastic regulation, fishing-gear management and preventing waste from entering rivers and drains before it reaches the coast.