Mumbai came together for a cleaner coast as Mumbaikars joined Dr. Jitendra Singh in the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar beach cleanup drive. From cleaning the shoreline to taking a collective pledge, participants reaffirmed their commitment to keeping beaches and seas clean, safe and sustainable. The drive also highlighted the importance of public participation in protecting India’s more than 11,000-km coastline.

The Juhu Beach programme was part of a wider nationwide campaign that brings together citizens, students, youth, coastal communities, scientific institutions, government agencies and volunteers.

Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar 5.0 Enters Its Fifth Edition

The 2026 edition is the fifth edition of the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign. It is being conducted as a nationwide programme from September 12 to September 19, 2026, culminating in International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Since its launch in 2022, the campaign has evolved into a wider people’s movement focused on coastal cleanliness, marine pollution awareness, responsible waste management and conservation of marine ecosystems. Students, NGOs, local communities, youth groups and volunteers have played an important role in expanding its reach.

According to the campaign material, 39 tonnes of waste, including approximately 17 tonnes of plastic, were collected in 2025.

From Beach Cleanups to Underwater Conservation

The 2026 campaign has also taken its conservation efforts underwater. At Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an underwater cleaning programme was conducted as part of Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar 5.0.

Divers participated in the underwater cleanup, highlighting the need to address marine litter not only along the shoreline but also beneath the ocean surface. The activity reflects the campaign’s wider focus on protecting marine ecosystems and keeping India’s seas cleaner.

Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar promotes public awareness, waste reduction, responsible disposal and community participation. The campaign also encourages people to reduce single-use plastics, segregate waste properly and adopt more sustainable practices.

The initiative is also linked with the broader objectives of India’s Deep Ocean Mission, with a focus on the responsible utilisation and conservation of marine resources. Dr. Jitendra Singh has linked the 2026 campaign with this wider vision of marine conservation.

The development was announced by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, who described the birth as a historic and joyful moment for Project Cheetah. He highlighted the arrival of the four cubs as a symbol of hope, resilience and the progress of cheetah conservation in India.

Four Cheetah Cubs Born at Kuno National Park

KGP12 gave birth to the four cubs at Kuno National Park. She was born in India to Gamini, a cheetah brought to the country from South Africa. The latest birth is particularly significant because KGP12 has now produced her second litter of four cubs, making her the first India-born cheetah reported to give birth to four cubs twice.

Her first litter was born earlier in 2026. The latest birth adds another generation to the cheetah population being established in India through Project Cheetah.

India’s Cheetah Population Rises to 56

With the arrival of the four new cubs, India’s total cheetah population has risen to 56, including 36 cheetahs born in India. Of these, 53 are currently in Kuno National Park, while three are at Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

The increase comes as the conservation programme continues to focus on breeding, survival and the establishment of a sustainable cheetah population in India.

KGP12 Marks a New Generation of Cheetahs Born in India

The birth of KGP12’s cubs represents another generation of cheetahs born from an India-born mother. KGP12 was born at Kuno after her mother Gamini was brought to India from South Africa. The new cubs therefore represent the continuing development of an India-born cheetah population under the reintroduction programme.

The successful breeding of India-born cheetahs is an important part of Project Cheetah’s long-term objective of establishing a viable population that can survive and reproduce in suitable Indian habitats.