The International Coastal Clean-up Day is observed annually worldwide on the third Saturday of September every year. Background Coastal Cleanup Day was established by the Ocean Conservancy, with the first-ever cleanup event held on the west coast of Washington State in 1986. Now, each year, it is scheduled to be celebrated on the third Saturday of the month of September. The day aims to raise awareness on the problem of marine litter. It is a global event that promotes local clean-up actions on beaches, coastal areas, rivers, lakes, and other watercourses. Celebrations in India The day is observed under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in the South Asian Region. The Indian Coast Guard has been coordinating this activity in India since 2006. The 2025 celebrations is held on 20 September 2025. The Indian Coast Guard conducts International Coastal Clean-up Day across all Coastal States and Union Territories. Various civil agencies, Central and State government organizations, Municipal Corporations, NGOs, fisheries associations, ports, oil agencies and other private enterprises participate in the campaign with zeal. Huge participation by enthusiastic NCC cadets, NSS, school and college students highlight the level of awareness among young generation and their commitment for clean beaches. Swachh Sagar Surkashit Sagar The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) conducts mega citizen-led beach clean-up drives in coastal states and UTs of the country to mark International Coastal Clean-up Day. The event is aimed to encourage citizens to clean up the coastal line and create awareness about preserving and protecting the oceans and waterways. The participants include from government institutions, NGOs, students and youth, local dwellers, and the public. The Swachh Sagar Surkashit Sagar beach clean-up drives are organised by five MoES institutes—Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), National Centre for Ocean and Polar Research (NCPOR), Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), and National Centre for Earth System Sciences (NCESS). The 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' campaign 2026 is scheduled to be organised across the country's coastline from 10 to 19 September 2026. The outreach strategy and preparations for the nationwide initiative seeks to combine environmental conservation with public awareness and community participation. The campaign is expected to bring together scientific institutions, government agencies, volunteers, educational institutions and local communities in one of the country's largest coastal cleanliness drives. The Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign facilitates beach cleanup drives at more than 80 locations across the country’s coasts, removing waste, including plastic, metal, cloth, rubber, and paper and wood debris.