India Clean‑Up Confluence 3.0 – Event Overview
The third edition of the India Clean‑Up Confluence (ICUC 3.0) was held on September 19‑20, 2026 at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The two‑day platform, expanding from its Mumbai origins to the capital for the first time, convened more than 600 delegates and over 80 organisations, encompassing NGOs, citizen groups, corporate CSR teams, sustainability experts and young environmental activists.
Key Addresses and Speakers
Mayor Pravesh Wahi, Chief Guest and head of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, delivered a short speech emphasizing that Delhi’s cleanliness cannot rely on government action alone and calling for stronger partnerships with NGOs and youth. Core speakers included environmentalist Peepal Baba (Give Me Trees Trust), Ramveer Tanwar (Pond Man of India), Dr Pulak Bhaumik (CEO, Data Centres, Listenlights), Jagan Shah (Senior Expert, Urban Development Policy and Practice, IIT Delhi), Utsav Kamboj (CEO & Founder, Archea), Anjan Rao Puttige (District Cooling Expert, UNEP) and Pratima Singh (Director, Air Pollution and Waste Management, iForest). Co‑founder Maansi Desai highlighted that ICUC was created to bring existing changemakers together for mutual learning and collaboration, while co‑founder Freishia B reiterated the aim of building a stronger community beyond individual clean‑up drives.
Corporate Endorsements
Leshna Shah, Founder of Irasva Fine Jewellery and CCO at With Clarity and CEO of RD2C Ventures, expressed pride in supporting ICUC 3.0 and its collaborative approach to environmental action. Dr Pulak Bhaumik, CEO of Listenlights Pvt. Ltd., noted that participation allowed the company to engage with diverse voices across India’s environmental ecosystem and praised the scale and diversity of the confluence.
New Initiative – Mentor Matchmaker
A novel Mentor Matchmaker programme paired NGOs with seasoned corporate professionals to provide practical guidance and explore collaboration opportunities. Initial pairings were:
- Harit Yuva Foundation with Anuj Ramatri
- Lending Hands Foundation with Pulak Bhaumik
- Project Mathura with Alok Varma of HCL Foundation
- Swasti Dass Sewa Sansthan with Matthew Mathai.
Thematic Sessions
The "Critical Infrastructure: When Development Meets Sustainability" session examined how cities can grow while safeguarding environmental needs, covering urban planning, water, energy, waste and technology. The "Green Pay‑Cheque" session explored emerging career pathways in the sustainability sector, discussing the impact of AI on work and the continued importance of human judgement, creativity, field experience and community engagement.
Cultural and Recognition Highlights
A performance by rapper‑activist Mahi J brought a Gen Z perspective to the event. Ten Safai Yodhas working with Chintan and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi were honoured; each received a health package valued at ₹15,000, provided by Fortis Escorts New Delhi. This marked the third consecutive year of such recognition, now expanded to include health check‑ups.
On‑Ground Action
The second day featured a large‑scale clean‑up at the Red Fort and Angoori Bagh Park, with more than 500 volunteers from across Delhi‑NCR participating.
Growth Trajectory
Since its inaugural edition in 2024, ICUC has expanded from 200+ delegates and 50 organisations to 350+ participants and 60+ organisations in 2025, achieving a reach of over 60 lakh individuals. The parent platform, Carter Clean‑Up, founded by Maansi Desai and Freishia B, has mobilised over 10,000 volunteers across 245+ beach clean‑ups, removing more than 140,000 kg of waste and debris from Carter Road.
About India Clean‑Up Confluence
ICUC aims to connect stakeholders tackling varied environmental challenges, facilitate knowledge‑sharing, mentorship and collaboration among grassroots groups, citizens, corporates and other partners. Its annual confluence blends discussions, learning sessions, recognition, networking and on‑ground environmental action.