Nationwide ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ Drive Scheduled for Sept 10–19: Dr Jitendra

New Delhi, July 12: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, has announced that the nationwide coastal cleanliness campaign, "Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar," will be held from September 10 to 19, 2026 across India's coastline. The announcement was made during a high-level review meeting of Secretaries and senior officials from various science ministries and departments at the CSIR-Science Centre in New Delhi. The Minister emphasized the need for stronger coordination among scientific institutions to accelerate national priorities through innovation, public participation and inter-departmental collaboration. The meeting was attended by Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, DST Secretary Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare, DBT Secretary Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, DSIR and Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, along with senior officials from key scientific organisations. Reviewing the progress made since the previous coordination meeting, Dr. Singh said scientific departments should function as an integrated ecosystem rather than in isolation. He stressed that regular interaction, knowledge sharing and joint initiatives would help improve governance, promote innovation and ensure that scientific advancements directly benefit citizens. A key focus of the meeting was the upcoming "Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar" campaign, which aims to promote coastal conservation through public awareness and community participation. The nationwide initiative is expected to involve scientific institutions, government agencies, educational institutions, volunteers and local communities in one of the country's largest coastal clean-up drives. Officials also reviewed the communication strategies of various science ministries to highlight the achievements of the past 12 years. Departments outlined plans to strengthen digital outreach through documentaries, videos, infographics, thematic campaigns and success stories showcasing India's scientific progress. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) presented its outreach plans for flagship initiatives such as the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), National Quantum Mission, National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems and other major research programmes. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) informed that CSIR is preparing a comprehensive publication documenting its achievements over the past 12 years, which will be released during CSIR Foundation Day later this year. The organisation will also continue promoting research through its "Innovation in Action" lecture series. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) shared updates on thematic publications highlighting its contributions to public health, genomics, agricultural biotechnology, bioeconomy and biotechnology start-ups. It also highlighted the ongoing #DBTQuest campaign aimed at increasing public engagement with science. The meeting further reviewed collaborative programmes involving CSIR, ISRO, DST, DBT, BARC and other scientific organisations, including technology development, biomedical research, innovation platforms and initiatives for the North Eastern Region. Progress under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), including wider adoption of the SARAL_AI platform and increased researcher participation, was also discussed. Preparations for major upcoming scientific events, including ESTIC-2026, the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2026 and National Space Day 2026, were reviewed to ensure broad participation from researchers, industry, start-ups, students and the public. Concluding the meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India's scientific ecosystem is entering a new phase where research excellence, technological innovation, institutional coordination and public engagement must work together. He added that enhanced collaboration among scientific departments reflects the government's commitment to making science more accessible, impactful and aligned with the country's development goals.