Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the Delhi Ko Kude Se Azadi, Swachhta Abhiyan 2026 at Kedarnath Sahni Auditorium, announcing a ward-level cleanliness competition that will run until October two, 2026. The best-performing ward each month will receive Rs 10 million (mn), and wards that sustain high performance could receive further awards totalling up to Rs 120 mn from CMDF over the year. The launch was attended by Union Minister of State and Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra, Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, Mayor Pravesh Wahi and Chief Whip Abhay Verma. The campaign aims to strengthen the city sanitation system, promote scientific waste management and encourage public participation. Performance will be assessed through reports from an independent agency, official submissions and public complaints including social media, and wards with recurring garbage complaints may face disqualification. The Chief Minister said cleanliness is a shared responsibility and urged coordination among Government departments, local bodies, resident welfare associations, market associations, schools, industries and citizens. The programme will focus on four elements of waste management: collection, cleaning, conversion and the circular economy, with emphasis on segregation at source, proper collection and scientific processing. A brochure was released and a schedule of special drives includes operations in slum clusters on August 23, August 30, September six and September 13. Public toilets will receive focused cleaning every Saturday and Sunday, a green waste clearance in parks will run from September one to 10 and hospitals will have special drives on September 17. The administration will deploy 70 mechanical sweeping machines, additional litter picker vehicles per ward and 125 secondary collection centres for construction and demolition waste to support operations. Officials said the campaign is intended to change citizens’ habits and make cleanliness part of everyday behaviour rather than merely addressing streets. They added that strengthened municipal finances will enable faster sanitation work.