NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education has asked affiliated schools to observe Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2026 up to 2 October, culminating in Swachh Bharat Diwas on that date. Circular Acad-63/2026, dated 25 September and issued by the Academics unit, sets the theme as Swachhata Mein Sahbhag; Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat, with a Whole of Government and Whole of Society approach.
The campaign seeks to strengthen collective ownership and Jan Bhagidari for cleanliness, raise student and youth participation, and create awareness on the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. Citing the role of children and youth in sustained behaviour change, CBSE says the drive may run under Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE. Schools that have not yet constituted Eco Clubs are told to take necessary action to establish them.
Focus areas listed for schools
The circular names four focus areas. First, transformation of Cleanliness Target Units and clean public places, including difficult and dirty spots and high-footfall public places that may be identified, mapped and cleared. Second, Swachh Paathshala and Yuva for Swachhata, including Swachhata Gyan Yatra exposure visits to solid waste management facilities and Swachhata Evam Jal Sanchay Samvad debates on rainwater harvesting and water management for Classes VI to XII where feasible.
Third, Jan Bhagidari activities such as door-to-door awareness on four-way source segregation and composting, local sports for Swachhata, eco-friendly festival practices, plantation under Ek Ped Maa ke Naam, special work around World Tourism Day on 27 September, and Special Gram Sabhas or Council meetings on 2 October. Fourth, Swachhata se Samriddhi steps that promote waste-to-wealth and waste-to-art work, donation drives for old books, toys and clothes, and plastic recycling melas linked to circular economy messaging in the school neighbourhood.
Suggestive activities and annexure
Suggestive school activities include cleanliness and beautification drives with Shramdaan and plantation; exposure visits preferably for Classes VI to XII; talks on personal hygiene, handwashing, safe toilets, rainwater harvesting, four-way segregation, reduce-reuse-recycle and avoidance of single-use plastics; demonstrations on the SWM Rules, 2026; wall painting and thematic art competitions; and involvement of MyBharat volunteers, principals, parents and community members in age-appropriate tasks.
Quiz, one-hour shramdaan and reporting
Detailed guidelines on SHS 2026 are enclosed as Annexure-A to the circular. The circular adds three specific asks. A quiz on the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 has been hosted on the Eco Clubs portal, ecoclubs.education.gov.in, for students of Classes 6 to 12. A nationwide shramdaan under the banner Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath is proposed for 1 October 2026, in which citizens are asked to give one hour of voluntary cleanliness work together.
Schools are also asked to upload details of their participation and activities on the Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE portal at the same address. The circular is signed by Dr Praggya M. Singh, Professor and Director (Academics), and asks principals to encourage maximum participation. It is framed as an observance that ends on Swachh Bharat Diwas, not as a ranking exercise.
Copies go to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Eklavya Model Residential Schools and other school bodies, with a request to pass it to their schools. Acad-63/2026 is listed among the September 2026 circulars on cbseacademic.nic.in.
The full details are in the CBSE circular Acad-63/2026.
