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The Ministry of Jal Shakti has officially declared 5,67,873 villages as Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) by December 4, 2025. The initiative, part of the program's Phase-II aimed at ensuring sustained sanitation, included three categories: Aspiring, Rising, and Model, signifying
sanitation
India's sanitation journey has seen significant progress, with ODF Plus villages increasing by 467% to 567,708 and 4,692 cities achieving ODF status as of November 2025. The Swachh Bharat Mission has been pivotal in eliminating open defecation and improving sanitation, contributing to public health, women'
Swachh Bharat Mission
The Ministry of Jal Shakti will host a conference on September 1, 2025, to assess the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) and brainstorm for its next phase. The event will gather senior officials from across India to review achievements, focus on sustaining Open Defecation Free outcomes, and discuss
ODF Plus
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has outlined the criteria for declaring villages as Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus, which includes maintaining ODF status, solid and liquid waste management, and visual cleanliness. There are three stages: Aspiring, Rising, and Model. Villages can self-declare their status at Gram Sabha meetings, followed by