The International Coastal Clean-up Day is observed annually worldwide on the third Saturday of September every year. Background Coastal Cleanup Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, with the first-ever cleanup event held on the west coast of Washington State in 1986. Now, each year, it is scheduled to be celebrated on the third Saturday of the month of September. The day aims to raise awareness on the problem of marine litter. It is a global event that promotes local clean-up actions on beaches, coastal areas, rivers, lakes, and other watercourses. Celebrations in India The day is observed under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in the South Asian Region. The Indian Coast Guard has been coordinating this activity in India since 2006. The 2026 celebrations is held on 19 September 2026. The Indian Coast Guard conducts International Coastal Clean-up Day across all Coastal States and Union Territories. Various civil agencies, Central and State government organizations, Municipal Corporations, NGOs, fisheries associations, ports, oil agencies and other private enterprises participate in the campaign with zeal. Huge participation by enthusiastic NCC cadets, NSS, school and college students highlight the level of awareness among young generation and their commitment for clean beaches. Swachh Sagar Surkashit Sagar India has a coastline of ~11098 km, rich in marine heritage and biodiversity with vast ocean resources supporting livelihood and ecosystems. Marine litter, especially plastic waste from land-based activities, tourism, and fishing, poses a growing threat to oceans, coasts, and marine life. Swacch Sagar, Surakshit Sagar, an initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, aims to address this challenge through mass participation and citizen awareness. Swacch Sagar Surakshit Sagar (SSSS) was launched in 2022 as a historic, citizen-led initiative to improve ocean health through collective action, awareness, and behavioural change. The campaign was built around three key principles: Consume Responsibly, Segregate Waste, and Dispose Responsibly, encouraging citizens to adopt sustainable practices and reduce marine litter. Objectives of the campaign Call for action and awareness on marine pollution and litter. Encourage a reduction in plastic use, especially single-use plastic. Promote waste segregation and responsible disposal. Foster community participation in beach cleanups. Protect coastal and marine biodiversity Inspire long-term behavioural change toward sustainable practices. Activities The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) conducts mega citizen-led beach clean-up drives in coastal states and UTs of the country to mark International Coastal Clean-up Day. The event is aimed to encourage citizens to clean up the coastal line and create awareness about preserving and protecting the oceans and waterways. The participants include from government institutions, NGOs, students and youth, local dwellers, and the public. The Swachh Sagar Surkashit Sagar beach clean-up drives are organised by five MoES institutes—National Institute of Ocean technology (NIOT), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), National Centre for Ocean and Polar Research (NCPOR), Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), National Centre for Earth System Sciences (NCESS), National Centre For Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), India Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Center for Seismology (NCS). The 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' campaign 2026 is scheduled to be organised across the country's coastline from 10 to 19 September 2026. The outreach strategy and preparations for the nationwide initiative seeks to combine environmental conservation with public awareness and community participation. The campaign is expected to bring together scientific institutions, government agencies, volunteers, educational institutions and local communities in one of the country's largest coastal cleanliness drives. The Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign facilitates beach cleanup drives at more than 80 locations across the country’s coasts, removing waste, including plastic, metal, cloth, rubber, and paper and wood debris. Source : Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar portal