SWACHH BHARAT MISSION (GRAMEEN) - PHASE II
1. At a Glance
- SBM(G) Phase-II is the second leg of India's flagship rural sanitation mission, focused on ODF sustainability and Solid & Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) to convert ODF villages into ODF Plus (Model) villages [S1][S3].
- Implemented in mission mode from 2020-21 to 2024-25 (extended to 2025-26 / 2026-27 as per latest PIB release dated 12 Feb 2026) [S1][S3].
- Critical for UPSC: links Article 47 (DPSP — public health), SDG-6 (sanitation), rural development, and centre-state fiscal federalism (15th FC, MGNREGS dovetailing) [S3].
2. Why in the News
- PIB release dated 12 February 2026 by Ministry of Jal Shakti reaffirmed Phase II implementation period as 2020-21 to 2026-27 and reported State/UT-wise ODF Plus (Model) status as on 10.02.2026 [S1].
- As on 15.11.2025, 4,85,510 villages had self-declared as ODF Plus (Model); by 16.12.2025 >4.89 lakh declared and >4.15 lakh verified ODF Plus (Model) [S2].
- >83% of Indian villages declared ODF Plus (Model) per Dept of Drinking Water & Sanitation year-end review [S2].
3. Background & Evolution
- SBM launched 2 October 2014 by PM Modi on Gandhi Jayanti; bifurcated into SBM-Urban (MoHUA) and SBM-Grameen (Ministry of Jal Shakti, DDWS) [S3].
- Phase I (2014-2019): Focus on toilet construction; India declared ODF on 2 October 2019 (150th Gandhi birth anniversary) [S3].
- Phase II approved by Union Cabinet on 19 Feb 2020; launched by then Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat [S3].
- Predecessors: Central Rural Sanitation Programme (1986) → Total Sanitation Campaign (1999) → Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (2012) → SBM-G (2014) [S3].
4. Core Static Facts
- Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti → Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS) [S1][S3].
- Period: 2020-21 to 2026-27 (originally 2024-25) [S1][S3].
- Total outlay: ₹1,40,881 crore [S3].
- DDWS budget: ₹52,497 crore; balance dovetailed from 15th Finance Commission grants to RLBs/PRIs, MGNREGS, and revenue generation models for SLWM [S3].
- Funding pattern: Centre:State = 90:10 for NE & Himalayan States/UT of J&K; 60:40 for other States; 100% Centre for other UTs [S3].
- Key components: ODF Sustainability (ODF-S); Solid (Biodegradable) Waste Management; Plastic Waste Management (PWM); Liquid/Grey Water Management (LWM); Faecal Sludge Management (FSM); GOBARdhan; IEC/BCC [S3].
- ODF Plus = ODF status sustained + SLWM arrangements (solid OR liquid waste managed) [S2].
- ODF Plus Model village = ODF + both solid & liquid waste management + visual cleanliness + IEC display [S1].
- Monitoring: Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of SBM(G) [S1].
- Subject matter: Sanitation is a State subject (Entry 6, State List) [S1].
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Social: Targets dignity (women's safety, end of manual scavenging linkage), addresses caste-linked sanitation deprivation; rural focus addresses urban-rural sanitation gap [S3].
- Environmental: PWM and FSM components tackle non-biodegradable accumulation and groundwater contamination; GOBARdhan converts cattle dung/organic waste to biogas/CBG aligning with circular economy [S3].
- Administrative / Federalism: Convergence model — funds pooled from 15th FC tied grants to PRIs, MGNREGS (soak pits, compost pits), and DDWS; GP-level execution under State governments [S3].
- Economic: Revenue-generation models for SLWM (sale of compost, CBG under GOBARdhan); employment via MGNREGS dovetailing [S3].
- Legal/Constitutional: Article 47 (DPSP — improvement of public health); 73rd Amendment (sanitation devolved to Panchayats — 11th Schedule, Entry 23) [S3].
6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)
- 12 Feb 2026 (PIB): Reaffirmed extended mission period to 2026-27; latest State/UT-wise ODF Plus progress released [S1].
- 15 Nov 2025: 4,85,510 villages declared ODF Plus (Model) [S2].
- 16 Dec 2025: >4.89 lakh declared, >4.15 lakh verified ODF Plus (Model) [S2].
- DDWS Year-End Review 2025: >83% villages declared ODF Plus (Model) [S2].
- Prior milestones: 50% ODF Plus (May 2023), 75% ODF Plus (Oct 2023), >95% declared ODF Plus by end-2024 [S2].
7. Prelims Hooks
- SBM(G) Phase-II implemented by Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti — NOT MoHUA, NOT MoRD [S1].
- Phase-II period: 2020-21 to 2026-27 (extended) [S1].
- Total outlay: ₹1,40,881 crore; DDWS share ₹52,497 crore [S3].
- Cabinet approved Phase II on 19 February 2020 [S3].
- India declared ODF on 2 October 2019 under Phase I [S3].
- GOBARdhan = Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan; a component of SBM(G) Phase II [S3].
- ODF Plus Model village requires BOTH SWM and LWM plus visual cleanliness [S1].
- Monitoring system: IMIS (Integrated Management Information System) [S1].
- Funding sharing in NE/Himalayan states: 90:10 [S3].
- Dovetails with 15th Finance Commission tied grants to PRIs and MGNREGS [S3].
- Sanitation is a State subject; SBM is centrally sponsored [S1].
- SLWM monitored on 4 indicators: plastic waste, biodegradable solid waste, greywater, faecal sludge [S3].
- Phase-II launched by then Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat [S3].
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-II: Government policies/interventions for development; welfare schemes — implementation, mechanisms, monitoring.
- GS-III: Inclusive growth; environment (waste management, CBG).
- GS-I: Social issues (sanitation, women empowerment).
- Probable stems: 1. "Discuss how SBM(G) Phase-II marks a paradigm shift from infrastructure creation to sustainability of sanitation outcomes." 2. "Convergence of 15th Finance Commission grants with SBM(G) Phase-II demonstrates cooperative federalism. Examine." 3. "Critically evaluate the role of GOBARdhan in achieving rural circular economy goals under SBM(G) Phase-II."
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) — sister mission under Jal Shakti for piped water; convergence with SBM-G.
- GOBARdhan & SATAT scheme — biogas/CBG ecosystem.
- 15th Finance Commission grants to PRIs — tied/untied; funds SLWM.
- AMRUT 2.0 & SBM-Urban 2.0 — urban counterpart for comparison.
- Manual Scavengers Act, 2013 & NAMASTE scheme — sanitation worker dignity.
- Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (amended 2022 — EPR) — links to PWM component.
- National Mission for Clean Ganga — waste management interface.
- SDG-6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) — global benchmark.
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- Wrong ministry: SBM-G is under Jal Shakti (DDWS), NOT Ministry of Rural Development or MoHUA (which runs SBM-Urban).
- ODF vs ODF Plus vs ODF Plus Model: ODF = no open defecation; ODF Plus = ODF + SWM or LWM; ODF Plus Model = ODF + SWM and LWM + visual cleanliness + IEC.
- Phase II period confusion: Originally 2020-21 to 2024-25; extended to 2026-27 — use latest.
- Outlay confusion: ₹1,40,881 cr is total (incl. convergence); DDWS budget alone is ₹52,497 cr.
- GOBARdhan misattribution: It is a component of SBM-G Phase II, not a standalone MNRE scheme.
- Sanitation is a State subject — SBM-G is Centrally Sponsored, not Central Sector.
11. Sources
- [S1] SWACHH BHARAT MISSION (GRAMEEN) – PHASE II, PIB 12 Feb 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2226999 — (tier: 1)
- [S2] Year End Review, DDWS / ODF Plus Village under SBM — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2210554 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2157441 — (tier: 1)
- [S3] Cabinet approves SBM(G) Phase-II & Factsheet — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1603628 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=148579 — (tier: 1)