Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today chaired a high-level review meeting on preparations for the forthcoming “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” (SSSS) campaign and separately assessed arrangements for the upcoming India International Science Festival. The Minister called for seamless coordination among institutions and wider public participation to ensure effective execution of both national initiatives.

The meeting, held at Prithvi Bhawan, reviewed the roadmap for the 2026 edition of the nationwide coastal cleanup campaign, which will be conducted from September 12 to 19, culminating on International Coastal Cleanup Day. Senior officials and scientists from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and its institutes attended the meeting along with representatives from the Indian Coast Guard, Seema Jagran Manch, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi, VIBHA and other stakeholder organizations. Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, MoES Joint Secretary Shri D. Senthil Pandiyan and Scientist G Dr. Jagvir Singh were also present.

The Minister said the 2026 campaign would be conducted as a week-long nationwide movement across India’s 11,098 km coastline with active participation from Central and State Ministries, academic and research institutions, district administrations, youth organizations and local communities. He said the campaign reflects the growing national commitment towards coastal conservation and marine ecological security.

A presentation during the meeting reviewed the progress of the 2025 campaign coordinated by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR). The review highlighted the contribution of the Sagar App, a citizen-science platform that has facilitated documentation of more than 150 tonnes of marine litter from coastal regions.

The Minister said the campaign under the PRITHVI scheme combines scientific monitoring with public participation and supports long-term efforts related to seawater quality assessment, marine litter management and mitigation of coastal hazards such as shoreline erosion. He called for greater involvement of NCC, NSS, educational institutions, volunteer groups and civil society organizations to expand the outreach of the campaign.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a sustainable Blue Economy, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India’s coastal initiatives are emerging as a model of community-driven environmental stewardship supported by scientific institutions and technology-enabled participation.

The “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign was launched in 2022 as a 75-day inter-ministerial initiative aimed at cleaning and reducing marine litter across coastal areas of the country. The campaign has since been conducted annually during the week of International Coastal Cleanup Day with participation from government institutions, volunteers, NGOs, students and community organizations. In 2025, the campaign was carried out from September 15 to 20 with extensive public participation across coastal locations.

The Minister also reviewed preparations related to the India International Science Festival scheduled this year in Pune in the third week of December and discussed measures to enhance participation of scientific institutions, innovators, students and young researchers to strengthen public engagement with science, technology and innovation.

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NKR/JKP/NM