The University Grants Commission (UGC) on July 28, 2026, notified regarding the promotion of Solid Waste Management and implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, in Higher Educational Institutions.
The following has been stated:
• UGC, based on a communication from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and in compliance with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, and the Supreme Court's Order dated May 25, 2026, has advised all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to strengthen solid waste management practices and environmental education. HEIs have been directed to register as Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs), where applicable, and comply with the SWM Rules, 2026.
• Institutions are encouraged to integrate solid waste management concepts into undergraduate curricula using the UGC Guidelines and Curriculum Framework for Environment Education (2023), promote enrolment in UGC SWAYAM MOOCs on Solid and Hazardous Waste Management and Mission LiFE, organize awareness programmes, cleanliness drives, seminars and community outreach activities, foster research and innovation in waste management and the circular economy, and adopt sustainable campus practices for environmentally sound solid waste management.
[Notification no. - 1-1/2026 (Solid Waste Management)]
