Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U)
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Urban Development Schemes · Topic 2.4
Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U) is the sanitation mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, launched on 2 October 2014 to make India's cities open defecation free and to manage solid waste scientifically. The first phase to 2019 built individual and community toilets and processed waste. SBM-U 2.0, launched on 1 October 2021 for five years with an outlay of about Rs 1.41 lakh crore, aims at Garbage Free Cities, with waste segregation at source, processing of all waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Urban Development Schemes
At a Glance
- Launch 2 October 2014
- Ministry Housing and Urban Affairs
- Phase 1 Toilets and ODF cities, to 2019
- SBM-U 2.0 1 October 2021, Rs 1.41 lakh crore, Garbage Free Cities
- Survey Swachh Survekshan
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Urban Development Schemes
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fourth topic of the macro on urban development. Its rural twin is run by the Jal Shakti Ministry, and a joint view is in Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban and Gramin). The urban lens here focuses on solid waste, sewage and cities. Previous topic: Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U). Next topic: Urban Poverty Alleviation, now…">National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).
What Are the Goals of SBM-U and SBM-U 2.0?
| Phase | Main goals |
|---|---|
| SBM-U 1.0 (2014 to 2019) | Eliminate open defecation by building individual household toilets and community toilets, and scientific management of municipal solid waste in all statutory towns |
| SBM-U 2.0 (2021 to 2026) | Make all cities Garbage Free, with source segregation, door-to-door collection, processing of all waste and scientific landfills |
| ODF | A city is Open Defecation Free if no one is seen defecating in the open at any time of the day |
| ODF+ | Toilets are functional and well maintained, with no person defecating in the open |
| ODF++ | ODF+ with safe management of faecal sludge and used water, so that no untreated waste goes into drains or water bodies |
| Water+ | Used water is treated and reused, with all city drains being safe |
| Garbage Free Cities | A star rating protocol for waste management, from one star to seven stars |
How Is SBM-U 2.0 Run?
- Outlay: about Rs 1.41 lakh crore in total, with a central share of about Rs 36,000 crore, as in the Cabinet approval of 2021
- Mission period: five years, from 1 October 2021 to 2025-26. A 2026 review marked the fifth and final year, as reported
- Legacy waste: legacy dumpsites are to be cleared by bio-mining and bio-remediation, to free land and reduce fires and pollution
- Source segregation: wet, dry and hazardous waste are to be separated at the household
- Used water: treatment of sewage and sludge and reuse of treated water, linked with AMRUT 2.0
- Single-use plastic: a focus on reduction of single-use plastic and building material and demolition waste recycling
- Rules: cities follow the Solid Waste Management Rules, with new rules reported for 2026, so check the latest notice
- Survey: Swachh Survekshan, an annual ranking of cities on cleanliness, started in 2016
What Else Should You Remember?
- Launch: The mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs was launched at Rajpath with the Prime Minister’s call on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for both urban and rural India
- Phase one results: As reported by the Ministry, about 63 lakh individual household toilets and 6 lakh community and public toilet seats were built, and all statutory towns were declared open defecation free by 2020
- Swachh Survekshan: The survey ranks cities, and Indore has topped the ranking many times in a row, as reported
- Waste processing: The share of waste processed has risen sharply since 2014, with the Ministry reporting levels above 70 per cent in recent years, though independent studies question the data
- Sanitation workers: The mission has a link with the NAMASTE scheme, which aims to end manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks and to give safety gear and training to workers
- Behaviour change: Information and communication drives encourage segregation, and a Swachh Bharat app lets citizens report problems
- Compost and biogas: The GOBARdhan scheme and a market development help for compost link waste to energy and fertiliser
- Challenges: Mixed waste in many cities, shortage of processing plants, weak user fees and the dumpsites near large cities
- Health and environment: Better sanitation cuts disease burden, while landfill fires and leachate remain risks
- Comparison: For the water and sewerage side of the same cities, see Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Date: 2 October 2014 and 1 October 2021
- Levels: ODF, ODF+, ODF++ and Water+
- Goal of 2.0: Garbage Free Cities and legacy waste
- Survey: Swachh Survekshan since 2016
- Ministry: MoHUA for urban and Jal Shakti for rural
As an analytical point, building toilets was the easier task. The harder test is segregation, processing and the safe handling of sludge, which depend on city finances and daily habits. User charges and trained staff are needed to hold the gains.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Levels ODF to Water+
- Waste rules Garbage Free Cities
- Survey Rankings in the news
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the national mission for urban livelihoods. Next topic: National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).
Key People and Terms
- ODF Open Defecation Free
- Faecal sludge Waste from toilets
- Bio-mining Digging and processing old waste
- Legacy waste Old accumulated garbage
- Segregation Separating waste types
- Swachh Survekshan Cleanliness survey
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Launched on 2 October 2014.
- SBM-U 2.0 began 1 October 2021.
- Levels: ODF, ODF+, ODF++, Water+.
- Goal: Garbage Free Cities.
- Survey since 2016.
Do Not Confuse With
- SBM-U and SBM-G MoHUA versus the Jal Shakti Ministry
- ODF+ and ODF++ Toilet use and maintenance versus safe faecal sludge management
- Water+ and ODF++ Treated and reused used water versus sludge safety
Memory Hook
Toilet first, then trash, then treat the water: ODF, ODF++, Water+.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about waste management in cities and the success of the cleanliness drive. These points give a balanced frame.
- Gains ODF status, higher processing, citizen awareness
- Gaps Segregation, plants, legacy waste, worker safety
- Way ahead User fees, decentralised processing, worker welfare
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban and the challenges in achieving Garbage Free Cities.”
How to Answer
- Intro Mission and phases.
- Progress ODF and processing.
- Challenges Segregation and landfills.
- Way Finance and worker welfare.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban?
Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban is the sanitation mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, launched on 2 October 2014. It aims to make cities open defecation free and to manage solid waste scientifically, and its second phase, started in 2021, aims at Garbage Free Cities.
What is SBM-U 2.0?
SBM-U 2.0 was launched on 1 October 2021 for five years with an outlay of about Rs 1.41 lakh crore. It aims to make all cities Garbage Free through source segregation, processing of all waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites, with ODF+ and Water+ goals for cities of different sizes.
What is the difference between ODF, ODF+ and ODF++?
ODF means no open defecation. ODF+ means that toilets are functional and well maintained along with no open defecation. ODF++ adds safe management of faecal sludge and used water, so that untreated waste does not enter drains or water bodies. Water+ goes further and requires treatment and reuse of used water.
What is Swachh Survekshan?
Swachh Survekshan is an annual survey of cleanliness conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs since 2016. It ranks cities using service level progress, field checks and citizen feedback, and Indore has topped the ranking for several years in a row, as reported.
What is the latest status of SBM-U 2.0?
As reported, SBM-U 2.0 entered its fifth and final year in 2026, and a Ministry review in July 2026 asked states to award pending works and to reach at least 50 per cent completion of projects by December 2026. A successor phase is being discussed, so check official notices.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 SBM-U was launched on 2 October 2014.
Gandhi Jayanti.
2 ODF++ requires safe management of faecal sludge.
Along with ODF+.
3 SBM-U is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The urban mission is run by MoHUA.
4 Swachh Survekshan began in 2016.
An annual ranking of cities.
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