UGC asks universities to join Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 through 17 October

The University Grants Commission has asked higher education institutions to take part in the Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign 2026, which runs from 17 September to 17 October. In a letter dated 30 September 2026 (F.No. 240/2023(CPP-II)), Deputy Secretary Dr Smita Bidani forwarded the Jal Shakti and Housing and Urban Affairs brief and asked campuses to treat the drive as a serious institutional duty.

The campaign theme this year is "Swachhata Mein Sahbhagita, Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat." UGC notes that SHS has run since 2017 to strengthen volunteerism and a whole-of-society approach to cleanliness. Swachh Bharat Diwas falls on 2 October 2026.

What campuses are expected to focus on

The enclosed campaign brief lists five focus areas: transformation of Cleanliness Target Units and clean public places; Swachh Paathshala and Yuva for Swachhata; SafaiMitra Suraksha Evam Samman Shivir; Jan Bhagidari for Swachhata; and Swachhata se Samriddhi.

Two calendar markers sit inside the campaign window. On 1 October 2026 at 8:00 AM, institutions are asked to join Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath. On 2 October, campuses mark Swachh Bharat Diwas. UGC has also pointed HEIs to campaign guidelines and a short audio-visual pack for preparatory work.

For universities, Swachh Paathshala and Yuva for Swachhata translate into student-led cleaning of hostels, canteens, labs and neighbourhood stretches adopted as CTUs. SafaiMitra events are meant to recognise sanitation workers rather than treat them as invisible labour during photo opportunities.

How universities are asked to amplify the work

The letter suggests that HEIs use their official social media handles and tag the campaign accounts of Swachh Bharat, MoHUA, Jal Shakti and the Education Ministry, using the hashtags given in the advisory. That line is about public visibility of campus work, not about replacing on-ground cleaning and volunteer schedules.

Principals and registrars are expected to circulate the Jal Shakti presentation and guidelines to NSS, NCC, student unions and estate offices so that activities are planned before 17 October rather than announced on the last evening.

IQAC and student welfare offices can keep a simple activity log: date, location, number of volunteers, CTU or public place covered, and whether SafaiMitra recognition was part of the programme. That record helps when State or central agencies later ask what the campus actually did during SHS 2026.

Why the Commission wrote now

By the time the UGC letter went out on 30 September, the campaign was already mid-way. The Commission still wanted every HEI on record as a participant ahead of the 1 October mass shramdaan hour and the 2 October Diwas events. The ask is operational: put volunteers on CTUs and public places, protect sanitation workers' dignity events, and keep a simple paper trail of what the campus did.

Affiliated colleges under State universities should not wait for a second circular from the affiliating university if the UGC letter has already reached the registrar. The Commission addressed HEIs directly and enclosed the parent ministry material.

Colleges that need the primary text should download the 30 September UGC advisory from ugc.gov.in rather than rely on forwarded paraphrases. The letter closes by asking all HEIs to take the steps needed to make SHS 2026 succeed on their campuses.