The Ministry of Heavy Industries successfully observed Swachhata Pakhwada from August 16 to 31, 2026, as part of the Government of India's Swachh Bharat Mission. The campaign followed the Calendar of Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 issued by the Government of India and demonstrated the ministry's commitment to making cleanliness a shared duty and creating a sustainable work environment.
The observance began with a pledge-taking ceremony on August 16, 2026, where Shri Kamran Rizvi, Secretary of MHI, administered the Swachhata Pledge to officers and officials of the ministry. Shri Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary, MHI, felicitated the sanitation and support staff of the Ministry with tokens of appreciation for their dedicated services in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene.
Throughout the fortnight, various activities were conducted including cleanliness drives across all rooms, staircases, corridors, and common areas of GPOA-3, removal of unserviceable furniture, computers, printers, and other obsolete items, and an essay competition on the theme 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' organized on August 21, 2026.
Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), a CPSE under the ministry, participated extensively across its manufacturing units, offices, project sites and establishments. Activities included cleanliness and housekeeping drives, waste and scrap removal and segregation, drain cleaning, revival and cleaning of rainwater harvesting systems, and internal audits covering STPs, ETPs, waste-management facilities, biomedical waste areas and storage systems. Special public cleanliness initiatives included bus-stop cleaning at Tiruchirappalli, beach clean-up at Palavakkam Beach in Chennai, and railway-track cleaning at Hyderabad.
Other CPSEs and Autonomous Bodies under the ministry also participated actively. The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar organized workplace and outdoor cleanliness drives, awareness activities on waste segregation, e-waste and reduction of single-use plastics, along with a Swachhata Quiz. NEPA Limited conducted cleanliness drives, plantation activities, cleanliness audits and housekeeping competitions. Bridge and Roof Company (India) Limited undertook cleanliness drives across offices and project sites, tree plantation, e-waste and scrap disposal and awareness activities. Hindustan Salts Limited focused on workplace cleanliness, sanitation, waste management, plantation, fire-safety and digital cleanliness. Instrumentation Limited organized awareness rallies, painting competitions, cleanliness drives and sanitation improvement activities. HMT Limited conducted cleanliness and beautification drives, waste segregation, e-waste disposal, plantation and awareness programmes. National Automotive Board observed Swachhata Pakhwada with pledge-taking, awareness programmes, competitions and cleanliness drives, including activities for school students.
The campaign concluded with Cleanathons, prize distribution and recognition of sanitation and housekeeping personnel, reaffirming the ministry's commitment to the Swachh Bharat Mission and the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.