MHI and CPSEs Drive Swachhata, Health and E‑Waste Initiatives under Special Campaign 6
Syllabus: Swachh Bharat Mission, e‑waste management and CSR activities of CPSEs
The news
The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) and its CPSEs/ABs began the implementation phase of Special Campaign 6 on 2 Oct 2026, conducting shramdaan, cleaning drives, health camps, tree‑plantation and e‑waste collection across multiple sites. A one‑day event on 6 Oct 2026 saw Joint Secretary Shri Vijay Mittal felicitate Safai Mitras with protective‑gear kits. BHEL, AYCL, CCIL, EPIL and Instrumentation Limited carried out site‑specific activities such as plantation drives, medical camps, workspace optimisation and e‑waste segregation. The Ministry monitored these actions through 31 Oct 2026 to ensure compliance with environmental guidelines.
Background in one line: MHI launches Special Campaign 6 → CPSEs plan site‑wise Swachhata, health and e‑waste actions → Implementation from 2 Oct to 31 Oct 2026 → Monitoring by Ministry → Felicitation of Safai Mitras and distribution of protective kits
Static syllabus linkage
- Swachh Bharat Mission (Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs)
- E‑Waste (Management) Rules, 2016
- Corporate Social Responsibility under Companies Act 2013 – Section 135 for CPSEs
- Ministry of Heavy Industries – mandate for environmental compliance of public sector units
Why it matters for UPSC
The campaign showcases how central public sector enterprises integrate environmental sustainability, waste management and employee welfare into their operational ethos, reflecting the government's broader push for clean India and circular economy. For UPSC, it links policy implementation, inter‑ministerial coordination and CSR compliance – key themes in GS‑3 and GS‑4.
Prelims facts
- Special Campaign 6 of MHI ran from 2 Oct to 31 Oct 2026
- E‑Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 prescribe segregation and disposal of electronic waste
- CSR under Companies Act 2013 mandates CPSEs to spend 2% of average net profit on social initiatives
- Swachh Bharat Mission aims for cleanliness, waste segregation and behavioural change
Analysis
The initiative underscores the role of CPSEs as agents of change in achieving national cleanliness and waste‑management targets, leveraging their extensive infrastructure and workforce. By combining shramdaan, health camps and e‑waste drives, the campaign adopts a holistic approach to environmental health.
Challenges include ensuring consistent adherence to e‑waste guidelines across diverse sites, maintaining post‑campaign sustainability of green practices, and scaling protective‑gear distribution to all Safai Mitras. Monitoring mechanisms need robust data capture and reporting to assess impact.
Going forward, the Ministry could institutionalise periodic audits, integrate digital tracking of e‑waste collection, and link CSR spending to measurable environmental outcomes. Replicating best‑practice models from BHEL and AYCL across other CPSEs can amplify the impact.
Possible Mains question
Evaluate the effectiveness of Special Campaign 6 undertaken by the Ministry of Heavy Industries and its CPSEs in advancing the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission and e‑waste management. Suggest measures to enhance the sustainability of such initiatives.
15 marks · 250 words · GS3
Model approach
- Introduce the campaign and its objectives
- Analyse the activities undertaken – shramdaan, health camps, tree‑plantation, e‑waste segregation
- Assess impact on cleanliness, public health and waste management using examples from BHEL, AYCL, CCIL
- Identify gaps – monitoring, post‑campaign continuity, resource allocation
- Propose recommendations – regular audits, digital tracking, integration with CSR, capacity building
For SSC, Banking & State PSC
- SSC: Know the e‑waste management rules and Swachh Bharat Mission components
- Banking: CSR spending norms for public sector banks and CPSEs
- State PSC: Role of CPSEs in implementing state‑level cleanliness drives
Written with AI assistance from the source report and checked against it. Always verify facts with the original source .