Special Campaign 6 concludes with nationwide e-waste awareness and collection drive
PIB National (English) · Published 6 November 2026 · Last updated
The Department of School Education and Literacy successfully concluded Special Campaign 6, mobilizing 2.02 crore students and teachers across 2.85 lakh schools to collect 58.79 lakh e-waste items and advance administrative efficiency under Mission LiFE.
Key points
- Special Campaign 6 was observed from October 2 to October 31, 2026, by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) under the Union Ministry of Education.
- The nationwide initiative focused on administrative efficiency, cleanliness, and responsible e-waste management under the aegis of Eco Clubs for Mission LiFE.
- A total of 58.79 lakh e-waste items were collected by 2.02 crore students and teachers from 2.85 lakh schools across states, UTs, and autonomous bodies during the preparatory and implementation phase from September 16 to October 31, 2026.
- A one-day mega nationwide event was conducted on October 28, 2026, where around 1.89 lakh schools organized a quiz on e-waste in their morning assembly.
- The objectives of the e-waste drive were to reduce e-waste, reuse and refurbish electronic items, and ensure discarded items were handed over to authorised recyclers and refurbishers.
- Under the administrative efficiency component, DoSEL and its autonomous bodies reviewed 41,181 files and weeded out 31,010 obsolete files.
- The campaign successfully freed up 1,84,828 square feet of office space across various offices and departments.
- Disposal of scrap materials generated revenue amounting to ₹67.27 lakh for the government.
- Over seven lakh cleanliness campaigns were conducted in schools and offices operating under the Department of School Education and Literacy.
Background
- Special Campaign initiatives have been institutionalized by the government to institutionalize cleanliness, reduce pendency in official work, and promote optimal space management in public offices.
- The integration of environmental campaigns with educational institutions has increasingly relied on frameworks like Eco Clubs to promote sustainable lifestyles.
- Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was introduced globally to nudge individual and community action toward sustainable resource utilization and waste reduction.
- Growing volumes of discarded electronics have necessitated structured drives to channel e-waste from households and institutions to authorized recyclers.
- Administrative reform drives within ministries routinely incorporate targets for file review, weeding of obsolete records, and revenue generation through scrap disposal.
UPSC relevance, Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: PIB National (English)