India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) marks a decade of transformative impact in sanitation and public hygiene. The mission aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation. By 2025, India has evolved SBM into a Sustainable-SmartSwachh Bharat (3S) initiative, integrating advanced technologies and eco-friendly practices to create green model villages and sustainable urban environments.
Swachh Bharat Mission and Public Health
Since its inception, SBM has eradicated open defecation across rural and urban India. It has promoted social responsibility among citizens through awareness campaigns. The mission’s holistic approach combines infrastructure development with behavioural change to improve public health hygiene nationwide. Community Sanitary Complexes (CSCs) provide easy access to sanitation, ensuring inclusivity.
Green Infrastructure and Waste Management
SBM has pioneered green sanitation infrastructure including faecal sludge management using Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and decentralised grey water management via soak pits. The mission promotes waste-to-wealth initiatives such as GOBARdhan, which converts organic waste into biogas and compost. Plastic waste management and biodegradable waste processing are key components, accelerating India’s progress in environmental sustainability.
Technology Integration in Cleanliness Drives
Industry 4.0 technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence, and drones have been incorporated to enhance cleaning efficiency. Indian start-ups such as Solinas have developed robotic solutions like Homosep Atom to replace manual cleaning. Drones are used for cleaning railway coaches and monitoring garbage hotspots, enabling targeted cleanliness drives and post-cleaning assessments.
Linkages with National and Global Goals
SBM supports the National Critical Mineral Mission by promoting e-waste recycling. This effort aids in extracting valuable minerals like lithium and cobalt, crucial for a green economy. The mission also complements India’s Smart City Mission, aiming for a clean and sustainable urban future by 2047. SBM contributes to SDG 9 (industry innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities), and SDG 13 (climate action).
Environmental Restoration and Innovation
Neglected landfills are being transformed using bioremediation and biomining. Reclaimed sites are redesigned as green eco-spaces and digital public infrastructures. This innovation reduces pollution and promotes ecological balance. The 2025 World Ozone Day theme, From Science to Global Action, echoes the mission’s emphasis on science-driven environmental protection.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically analyse the role of technology in transforming public hygiene and sanitation in India under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
- Explain the significance of waste-to-wealth initiatives in sustainable rural development with suitable examples from India.
- What are the challenges in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to sanitation in developing countries? How can integrated national missions like SBM address these challenges?
- Underline the importance of bioremediation and biomining in environmental restoration and comment on their potential in urban waste management.
