PIB · Government of India ·

Department of Land Resources Launches Swachhata Hi Sewa Campaign Emphasizing Collective Responsibility for Sustainable Waste Management

Distilled Policy Brief

  • The Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development, launched the 'Swachhata Hi Sewa' campaign on September 17, 2026, to promote cleanliness as a collective responsibility.
  • The initiative emphasizes responsible waste management, focusing on plastic waste, e-waste recycling, and supporting circular economy practices across offices and communities.
  • It encourages officials and citizens to move beyond relying solely on sanitation workers by taking personal accountability for maintaining clean surroundings.

🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points

The 'Swachhata Hi Sewa' initiative emphasizes responsible waste management, circular economy principles, and active citizen participation alongside workplace sanitation.

⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages

Discuss how behavioral changes and jan-bhagidari (public participation) at the grassroots level are essential for effective solid and e-waste management in India.

🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill

Social Justice & Schemes

With reference to the 'Swachhata Hi Sewa' campaign recently launched by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), consider the following statements: 1. It aims to promote cleanliness strictly as the sole responsibility of designated sanitation workers in government offices. 2. It emphasizes responsible waste management, focusing specifically on plastic waste and e-waste recycling to support circular economy practices. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • [A] 1 only
  • [B] 2 only
  • [C] Both 1 and 2
  • [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
✓ Correct Option: [B] 2 only

Statement 1 is incorrect because the initiative explicitly encourages officials and citizens to move beyond relying solely on sanitation workers by taking personal accountability and viewing cleanliness as a collective responsibility. Statement 2 is correct as the campaign highlights responsible waste management with a focus on plastic waste, e-waste recycling, and supporting circular economy practices across offices and communities.

Tark High-Yield Question Bank ⚡ Practice Full Test in Testing Arena ↗

🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)

UPSC Prelims 2021

Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.

Forensic Anchor: Cabinet Allocation of Business Rules & NCAP Framework
Examiner Trap Takeaway: UPSC swapped Central Pollution Control Board role with State Pollution Control Boards for state-level monitoring.

📚 Static Syllabus & Constitutional Linkages

Solid Waste Management Rules: Regulatory frameworks governing segregation, processing, and disposal of municipal solid waste in India.
Circular Economy in Governance: Transitioning from a linear 'take-make-dispose' model to restorative industrial systems focusing on resource efficiency.