India Extends Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen to March 2028
The Centre extended the rural sanitation scheme until March 2028 and allocated around Rs 7,000 crore for the 2027-28 budget.
New Delhi2 min read
Last updated
The Government of India extended the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II until 31 March 2028. The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti received approval from the Finance Ministry on 3 November 2026. The extension allows allocation of approximately Rs 7,000 crore in the Union Budget 2027-28.
Phase-II was originally scheduled to end in 2024-25 and had already received one extension to the close of the 15th Finance Commission period. The new order requires all remaining villages to receive ODF Plus certification by 31 March 2028. No further extension beyond that date will be considered.
An ODF Plus village sustains its open-defecation-free status, manages solid and liquid waste, and maintains visual cleanliness. As of the latest dashboard figures, 5.70 lakh of 5.86 lakh villages have been declared ODF Plus. The remaining villages must meet the criteria within the overall programme outlay.
The Union Cabinet approved Phase-II on 19 February 2020. The scheme focuses on sustaining the gains of the original Swachh Bharat Mission while adding waste management components. The extension provides additional time and funds to complete certification in the last villages.
The Finance Ministry’s order states that the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation must ensure remaining villages obtain ODF Plus certificates by the March 2028 deadline. Implementation continues under existing guidelines, with the new funds supporting residual work and maintenance.
Rural sanitation coverage under the mission has expanded significantly since 2014. The current phase emphasizes behaviour change and infrastructure for waste processing. The deadline of 31 March 2028 is firm according to the Finance Ministry communication.
Officials will track progress through the mission dashboard. Villages still awaiting certification will receive priority support in the remaining period. The allocation of Rs 7,000 crore covers the final stretch of the programme.
The extension coincides with related rural water programmes that have also received timeline adjustments. Focus remains on completing the sanitation targets without additional extensions. State and local bodies continue day-to-day implementation under central guidelines.
Final certification numbers will be published as villages meet the ODF Plus criteria. The programme aims to close the remaining gap of roughly 16,000 villages by the end of March 2028.
