Overview
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched on 2 October 2014 (the 145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi) as a nationwide campaign to achieve universal sanitation coverage. The mission operates through two verticals: SBM-Grameen (SBM-G) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation) and SBM-Urban (SBM-U) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
India was declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) on 2 October 2019, with over 11.93 crore household toilets constructed and 2.62 lakh community sanitary complexes built under SBM-G. The mission has since advanced to Phase II/2.0, focusing on sustainability of ODF outcomes, scientific solid and liquid waste management, and the transition to ODF+ and ODF++ status.
According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2025 update, India’s national open defecation rate declined to 7% in 2024, with urban open defecation effectively eliminated (0%).
| Parameter | SBM-Grameen (Phase II) | SBM-Urban 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Nodal Ministry | Jal Shakti | MoHUA |
| Implementation period | 2020-21 to 2025-26 | 2021-22 to 2025-26 |
| Total outlay | ₹52,497 crore | ₹1,41,600 crore (Centre: ₹36,465 crore) |
| FY 2025-26 allocation | ₹7,192 crore | ₹5,000 crore |
| Household toilets built | 11.93 crore+ | – |
| Towns covered | – | 4,041 statutory towns |
SBM-Grameen (Rural)
Phase I (2014-2019)
- Nationwide campaign to eliminate open defecation through behaviour change communication, toilet construction, and monitoring
- Over 11.93 crore household toilets constructed
- India declared ODF on 2 October 2019
Phase II (2020-2026)
- Goes beyond ODF to ODF Plus status: sustainability of ODF, solid and liquid waste management
- Budget: ₹52,497 crore for 2020-21 to 2024-25
- Over 95% of villages declared ODF Plus by November 2025 (up from 83% earlier in the year)
- 5.27 lakh villages have solid waste management arrangements
- 5.41 lakh villages have liquid waste management arrangements
- Over 970 GOBARdhan community biogas plants functional
- 124 faecal sludge treatment plants operational
SBM-Urban
Phase I (2014-2019)
- Goal: Making urban India free from open defecation and achieving 100% scientific management of municipal solid waste in 4,041 statutory towns
- All urban areas declared ODF by 2019
SBM-U 2.0 (2021-2026)
- Total financial outlay: ₹1,41,600 crore (Centre: ₹36,465 crore) — over 2.5 times the Phase I outlay of ₹62,009 crore
- Goes beyond ODF to ODF+, ODF++, and Water+ certification
- Focus areas: Sustainable sanitation, 100% scientific processing of solid waste, wastewater management in cities with less than 1 lakh population
Urban ODF Progress
- Over 4,314 cities certified ODF+
- Over 1,973 cities certified ODF++
ODF Status Definitions
| Status | Definition |
|---|---|
| ODF | No person found defecating in the open at any point of the day |
| ODF+ | ODF status plus all community and public toilets functional and well-maintained |
| ODF++ | ODF+ status plus entire faecal sludge/septage and sewage safely managed and treated |
| Water+ | ODF++ status plus treated wastewater reused or safely disposed |
GOBARdhan Initiative
Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) promotes conversion of cattle dung and other organic waste into biogas and bio-CNG:
- Over 970 community biogas plants functional as of 2025
- Promotes circular economy in rural areas
- Reduces dependence on fossil fuels and firewood
- Integrated with SBM-G Phase II for organic waste management
Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) Campaign
The annual mass mobilisation campaign conducted during September-October witnessed massive public participation:
- SHS 2025: Over 18 crore people participated, including 13 crore from rural India
- Focuses on community-led cleanliness drives, awareness campaigns, and behavioural nudges
Latest Developments
- FY 2025-26 Budget: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan allocated ₹12,192 crore total (Urban: ₹5,000 crore; Rural: ₹7,192 crore).
- November 2025: Over 95% of villages (5.67 lakh) declared ODF Plus; 5.27 lakh villages with solid waste management.
- WHO/UNICEF JMP 2025: India’s open defecation rate down to 7% nationally; urban OD eliminated (0%).
- SHS 2025: Over 18 crore people participated in the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.
- GOBARdhan: Over 970 community biogas plants and 124 faecal sludge treatment plants operational.
- 4,314+ cities certified ODF+ and 1,973+ cities certified ODF++ under SBM-U 2.0.
Prelims Importance
- SBM launched: 2 October 2014 (145th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi)
- India declared ODF: 2 October 2019
- SBM-Grameen: Ministry of Jal Shakti; SBM-Urban: MoHUA
- Household toilets built: 11.93 crore+; Community sanitary complexes: 2.62 lakh
- SBM-U 2.0 outlay: ₹1,41,600 crore (Centre: ₹36,465 crore)
- SBM-G Phase II outlay: ₹52,497 crore
- ODF hierarchy: ODF → ODF+ → ODF++ → Water+
- Over 95% of villages are ODF Plus (November 2025)
- 4,314+ cities ODF+; 1,973+ cities ODF++
- GOBARdhan: 970+ community biogas plants
- India’s open defecation rate: 7% (2024, JMP); Urban: 0%
- FY 2025-26 allocation: ₹12,192 crore (Urban: ₹5,000 crore; Rural: ₹7,192 crore)
Mains & Interview Importance
GS Paper 2 (Governance, Social Justice):
- Critically evaluate the behavioural change model adopted under SBM. Has the focus shifted from “toilet construction” to “toilet usage”?
- Discuss the governance challenges in sustaining ODF outcomes in rural India, especially regarding community sanitary complex maintenance and faecal sludge management.
GS Paper 3 (Environment):
- Analyse the significance of the GOBARdhan initiative in promoting circular economy and reducing rural dependence on fossil fuels.
- Examine the challenges of achieving 100% scientific municipal solid waste processing in 4,041 urban areas.
Interview Angle: “India built 11.93 crore toilets in 5 years, but independent surveys show continued open defecation in some areas. Is SBM a success of infrastructure or a failure of behaviour change? How would you bridge this gap?”
Sources: PIB, SBM-Grameen Portal, PM India