Union Minister JP Nadda has inaugurated Swachhata Pakhwada-2026, a two-week nationwide cleanliness campaign being observed by the Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The campaign began with a cleanliness message from the minister and the administration of the Swachhata Pledge to all officers and staff of the department.

Department of Fertilizers to Observe Swachhata Pakhwada-2026 from September 1 to 15, 2026

Running from September 1 to 15, 2026, the campaign aims to promote cleanliness at both physical workplaces and digital systems, encourage environmental conservation, and bring meaningful improvements to overall work culture. As part of the inaugural activities, awareness efforts are also being carried out to discourage the use of single-use plastics, encouraging staff to switch to cloth bags and reusable bottles instead.

Swachhata Pakhwada-2026 Focuses on Digital Record Management and Data Hygiene

A notable feature of this year's campaign is its strong emphasis on digital cleanliness alongside traditional physical cleanup drives. The department is working to streamline its e-Office and digital filing systems by reviewing pending electronic files, archiving cases that have already been resolved, and organising databases more systematically. Staff members are also being encouraged to clear out unnecessary, spam, and outdated files or email attachments to free up server space and improve overall administrative efficiency and transparency.

Key Schedule of Activities and Programmes for Swachhata Pakhwada-2026

September 2: Inspection of physical record rooms and removal of old files as per record retention norms.
September 3: A green workplace initiative featuring a plantation drive and distribution of awareness-themed T-shirts.
September 7: Systematic disposal of scrap, obsolete furniture, and e-waste.
September 8: Focused resolution of pending public grievances received through CPGRAMS, PMO, and other channels.
September 9: A dedicated Digital Cleanliness Day involving cleanup of e-files, cloud storage, and official mailboxes.
September 10: Community Shramdaan, with voluntary cleanliness drives across office premises.
September 11: Safety and hygiene audits of drinking water and sanitation facilities, along with a sustainability signature campaign.
September 14: Essay writing and idea-sharing contests for staff centred on cleanliness and digital efficiency.

The Department of Fertilizers has urged all officers, staff, and affiliated organisations to actively take part in the fortnight-long drive, treating both physical and digital cleanliness as an ongoing practice toward building a more efficient and sustainable administrative system.