Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 28: The “Special Swachhata Campaign 5.0” was reviewed today by a Group of Ministers comprising Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences; and Minister of State for PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space; Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Youth Affairs; and Shri Rammohan Naidu, Minister for Civil Aviation. The high-level review held here today focused on assessing the progress of cleanliness drives, file disposal, and innovative Waste to Wealth practices being implemented across Ministries and Departments under Special Campaign 5.0.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said the government’s cleanliness drive has matured into a transformative national movement that blends swachhata with efficiency, transparency, and innovation. He emphasized that Special Campaign 5.0, which began on October 2, 2025, and will culminate on October 31, 2025, marks a decisive step in institutionalizing cleanliness and record management across government offices. “Each version of this campaign has taken us to the next level – from file disposal to freeing up office space, and now, to turning waste into wealth. What began as a cleanliness initiative has evolved into a behavioral and economic reform,” he remarked.
Sharing the latest figures, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that against a target of 7.56 lakh sites, Ministries and Departments have already covered 5.57 lakh sites, achieving 73.7% progress by October 27, 2025. So far, the campaign has generated Rs 387.4 crore in revenue through disposal of scrap and e-waste, freed 148.19 lakh square feet of space, and weeded out 19.21 lakh files against the set targets. Public grievances redressal has reached 5.51 lakh cases disposed of out of a target of 7.04 lakh, while 12,402 appeals have been addressed out of 17,402 targeted .
Since its inception in 2021, the cumulative outcomes of the Special Campaign series have been substantial – covering 19.61 lakh cleanliness sites, freeing 844.46 lakh sq. ft. of office space, closing or weeding out 157.07 lakh files, and earning Rs 3,684 crore in revenue for the government.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said these achievements reflect not just administrative efficiency but also innovative thinking within government institutions. He drew attention to new models being implemented under the Waste to Wealth initiative, such as AIIMS’s experiment in recycling bio-laboratory waste into reusable material, and the conversion of used cooking oil into low-cost fuel through NGO partnerships. “These are models of sustainability that also offer economic and social benefits. Our goal is to make waste management a part of our daily administrative and civic behavior,” he said .
He also highlighted the collaboration between Tata Steel and government agencies in using steel plant by-products for eco-friendly road construction in regions like Surat, Arunachal Pradesh, and Murai. “Such practices demonstrate how the private sector can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development,” he added.
Mr. V. Srinivas, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), who is the nodal officer for the Special Campaign 5.0, presented a detailed status report on the progress achieved so far and the ongoing activities across Ministries and Departments. The meeting was also attended by nodal officers from various Ministries and Departments who briefed the Group of Ministers on the status and best practices of their respective departments under the campaign.
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