UPSC Alert: MoP Launches ‘Special Campaign 6’ for Cleanliness & Pending Cases

17 Sep UPSC Alert: MoP Launches ‘Special Campaign 6’ for Cleanliness & Pending Cases

✎ This campaign aligns with the Government of India’s broader initiative to enhance cleanliness and reduce pendency in government offices, with a specific focus on e-waste management as per the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022.

Subject Relevance — Where This Topic Fits

• GS Paper II — Governance, Transparency and Accountability  |  GS Paper III — Environment and Sustainable Development
• Prelims: Special Campaign 6, E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022, CPGRAMS, Parliamentary Assurances, Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), Ministry of Power (MoP)
• Essay: Administrative Reforms and Governance: The Role of Special Campaigns in Public Service Delivery

Why is this in the news?

This campaign aligns with the Government of India’s broader initiative to enhance cleanliness and reduce pendency in government offices, with a specific focus on e-waste management as per the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022.

Background

• Since 2021, the Ministry of Power has participated in ‘Special Campaigns’ aimed at improving cleanliness and reducing pendency in government offices.
• These campaigns are part of a broader government-wide effort to institutionalise cleanliness and streamline administrative processes.
• The E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022, mandate strict compliance for the collection, segregation, and disposal of e-waste, which is a key focus of this campaign.
• Pending matters include references from Members of Parliament, state governments, inter-ministerial correspondence, parliamentary assurances, references from the Prime Minister’s Office, public grievances (CPGRAMS), and grievance appeals.
• The campaign is structured in two phases: a preparation phase (15–30 September 2026) and an implementation phase (2–31 October 2026).
• Nodal officers have been designated across CPSUs and affiliated organisations to oversee the campaign’s execution.

What is ‘Special Campaign 6’?

• A time-bound initiative launched by the Ministry of Power to institutionalise cleanliness and reduce pendency in its offices and affiliated entities.
• The campaign emphasises strict compliance with the E-waste (Management) Rules, 2022, focusing on the effective collection, segregation, and disposal of e-waste.
• It targets the expeditious disposal of pending matters such as parliamentary references, inter-ministerial correspondence, public grievances (CPGRAMS), and parliamentary assurances.
• The campaign is divided into two phases: a preparation phase (15–30 September 2026) for planning, identification of pending matters, and resource mobilisation, and an implementation phase (2–31 October 2026) for action and resolution.
• Key activities during the preparation phase include identifying pending matters, engaging ground-level personnel, finalising cleanliness sites, reviewing records, planning space management, and identifying scrap materials for disposal.
• The implementation phase focuses on achieving the targets set during the preparation phase, including the disposal of pending matters and ensuring cleanliness in workspaces.
• Nodal officers have been designated across all CPSUs and affiliated organisations to coordinate and monitor the campaign’s progress.
• The campaign aims to enhance workplace efficiency, improve morale, and foster a culture of accountability and cleanliness in government offices.

Key Features

Feature	Significance
Institutionalisation of Cleanliness	Ensures sustained adherence to sanitation standards across all subordinate offices, CPSEs, and autonomous bodies under the Ministry of Power, aligning with the government’s broader ‘Swachhata Abhiyan’ initiative.
Time-bound Disposal of Pending Cases	Targets reduction of backlog in references from MPs, state governments, inter-ministerial correspondence, parliamentary assurances, PMO references, public grievances, and CPGRAMS, enhancing administrative efficiency.
Focus on E-Waste Management	Strict compliance with E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, emphasizing effective collection, segregation, and disposal of electronic waste to mitigate environmental hazards.
Preparation Phase (15-30 Sep 2026)	Involves identification of pending cases, activation of ground-level personnel, finalization of campaign sites, record review, space management planning, and identification of scrap material for disposal.
Implementation Phase (2-31 Oct 2026)	Execution of targets set during preparation phase, with concerted efforts to achieve cleanliness and minimise pending cases across all designated entities.

Why it Matters

Administrative Efficiency

• Reduces bureaucratic delays by ensuring timely disposal of pending references and grievances, thereby improving governance responsiveness.
• Enhances institutional memory and record-keeping through systematic review of official records during the preparation phase.
• Promotes a culture of accountability and transparency in public offices under the Ministry of Power.

Environmental Governance

• Strengthens compliance with E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, contributing to sustainable waste management and pollution control.
• Encourages systematic segregation and disposal of e-waste, reducing landfill burden and hazardous exposure.
• Aligns with national commitments under the Solid Waste Management Rules and the National Environment Policy.

Institutional Capacity Building

• Fosters a proactive approach among ground-level personnel through structured activation and training during the campaign.
• Establishes nodal officers across CPSEs and affiliated bodies to streamline coordination and implementation.
• Institutionalises best practices in office management, record-keeping, and space utilisation.

Public Service Delivery

• Addresses public grievances and parliamentary references expeditiously, enhancing citizen trust in government mechanisms.
• Ensures timely resolution of inter-ministerial and state government references, reducing inter-departmental friction.
• Improves workplace conditions and morale, indirectly benefiting service delivery through better administrative environments.

Challenges

1. Resource Constraints in CPSEs

• Limited manpower and financial resources in CPSEs may hinder effective implementation, particularly in remote or understaffed units.
• Dependence on external agencies for e-waste disposal may face logistical and cost challenges.

UPSC Link: GS-II: Role of Public Sector Enterprises

2. Data Integrity and Record-Keeping

• Incomplete or outdated records in subordinate offices may impede accurate identification and disposal of pending cases.
• Digitalisation gaps in older records could slow down the review process during the preparation phase.

UPSC Link: GS-II: E-Governance and Digital India

3. Stakeholder Coordination

• Ensuring seamless coordination between the Ministry, CPSEs, state governments, and parliamentary bodies requires robust inter-departmental mechanisms.
• Variations in administrative capacity across states may lead to uneven implementation.

UPSC Link: GS-II: Centre-State Relations

4. E-Waste Collection and Segregation

• Inadequate infrastructure for e-waste collection in certain regions may limit the campaign’s effectiveness.
• Public awareness gaps regarding e-waste disposal rules could reduce participation and compliance.

UPSC Link: GS-III: Environmental Pollution and Waste Management

5. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Real-time tracking of progress across diverse entities (CPSEs, autonomous bodies, etc.) poses a challenge for the nodal officers.
• Post-campaign sustainability of cleanliness and disposal practices requires continuous monitoring.

UPSC Link: GS-II: Governance, Transparency and Accountability

Challenges — UPSC Perspective

Issue	Concern
Manpower Shortages in CPSEs	Undermines the campaign’s reach and effectiveness, especially in peripheral units.
Legacy Data Gaps	Delays the identification and disposal of pending cases due to incomplete or manual records.
Inter-State Coordination Gaps	Leads to uneven implementation and delays in resolving state government references.
E-Waste Collection Infrastructure	Limits the campaign’s ability to enforce segregation and disposal standards uniformly.
Real-Time Monitoring Systems	Absence of robust digital tools may hinder accurate progress tracking and accountability.

Way Forward

• Strengthen manpower deployment in CPSEs through temporary staffing or outsourcing for e-waste management and record review.
• Accelerate digitalisation of legacy records in subordinate offices to improve data integrity and retrieval efficiency.
• Establish a centralised dashboard for real-time monitoring of pending cases and cleanliness metrics across all entities.
• Conduct capacity-building workshops for nodal officers and ground-level personnel on e-waste rules and disposal protocols.
• Partner with state governments to set up regional e-waste collection centres, ensuring equitable access to disposal facilities.
• Introduce incentive mechanisms for CPSEs achieving cleanliness and disposal targets, such as performance-linked bonuses.
• Publish quarterly progress reports on the campaign’s outcomes to maintain transparency and public accountability.
• Integrate the campaign’s objectives with existing initiatives like ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ and ‘Digital India’ for synergy.

UPSC Value Addition

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Special Campaign 6’ launched by the Ministry of Power:
1. The campaign is part of a broader government initiative to institutionalise cleanliness and dispose of pending matters in government offices.
2. The campaign places special emphasis on the effective collection, segregation, and disposal of e-waste in accordance with the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
3. The implementation phase of the campaign is scheduled to be conducted from 2 October to 31 October 2026.
4. The campaign is exclusively focused on the disposal of e-waste and does not address the disposal of pending grievances or parliamentary assurances.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All

Answer: Only three — Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct. Statement 4 is incorrect because the campaign also addresses the disposal of pending grievances, parliamentary assurances, and other references received by the Ministry of Power.

Q2. Assertion (A): The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, mandate strict compliance for the effective collection, segregation, and disposal of e-waste.
Reason (R): The Rules were framed under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to ensure environmentally sound management of e-waste.

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
3. A is true but R is false
4. A is false but R is true

Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A. The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, were indeed framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to ensure the environmentally sound management of e-waste.

Mains Practice Question

✍ The Government of India has been conducting ‘Special Campaigns’ since 2021 to institutionalise cleanliness and dispose of pending matters in government offices. In this context, critically examine the significance of ‘Special Campaign 6’ launched by the Ministry of Power, with particular reference to its focus on e-waste management and the disposal of pending grievances. (15 Marks)

Approach: MODEL-ANSWER SKELETON:

1. **Introduction (2 Marks)**
– Define ‘Special Campaign 6’ and its alignment with the broader government initiative to institutionalise cleanliness and dispose of pending matters.
– Mention the timeline: preparation phase (15–30 September 2026) and implementation phase (2–31 October 2026).

2. **Focus on E-Waste Management (4 Marks)**
– Explain the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022, and their legal basis under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
– Discuss the significance of effective collection, segregation, and disposal of e-waste in reducing environmental pollution and promoting sustainable practices.
– Highlight the role of CPSEs and subordinate offices in ensuring compliance with these rules.

3. **Disposal of Pending Grievances and References (4 Marks)**
– Define the types of pending matters addressed: MPs’ references, state government references, inter-ministerial correspondence, parliamentary assurances, PMO references, public grievances (CPGRAMS), and grievance appeals.
– Explain the importance of time-bound disposal in enhancing administrative efficiency and public trust.
– Reference the constitutional and statutory provisions that mandate timely disposal of grievances (e.g., Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy, Right to Service Acts).

4. **Critical Analysis (3 Marks)**
– Assess the potential challenges in achieving the objectives of the campaign, such as lack of awareness, resource constraints, and bureaucratic inertia.
– Discuss the role of nodal officers and ground-level personnel in ensuring the success of the campaign.
– Evaluate the long-term impact of such campaigns on institutional cleanliness and administrative reforms.

5. **Conclusion (2 Marks)**
– Summarise the significance of ‘Special Campaign 6’ in promoting cleanliness, efficiency, and accountability in government offices.
– Emphasise the need for sustained efforts beyond the campaign period to institutionalise these practices.

Source: PIB (Press Information Bureau)

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