Amit Shah unveils roadmap to make India drug-free by 2029

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the central government has prepared a roadmap to make India drug-free by 2029.

• The Centre has adopted a coordinated, nationwide strategy to dismantle the entire narcotics network, from drug trafficking and financing to rehabilitation, as part of its goal of ‘Drug-Free India’ by 2029.

• The earnings from narcotics are also used for terrorism. The narco-terror module is active in many countries of the world, and the entire world is today grappling with this problem. 

Key initiatives in the field of drug law enforcement:

• In 2019, a four-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism was created. 

• A model for the formation of dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces was sent to all states and Union Territories, and a Joint Coordination Committee was constituted. 

• With the coordination of central agencies, state governments and their departments, a scientific method was adopted to address large networks, inter-state and international links, and operational gaps. 

• The government launched MANAS helpline number — 1933 — designed as a unified platform for citizens to report drug-related issues via multiple communication.

• The cadre of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was restructured. 

• A national database of narcotics offenders was created through the National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders (NIDAAN) portal. It provides data of narcotics offenders involved in narcotics offences under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

• Using CCTNS (Crime & Criminal Tracking Network System) data and integrated data fusion, a data-based map of hotspots, modus operandi and seizures across the country was prepared. 

Highlights of the roadmap:

• A three-year roadmap from July 2026 to July 2029 has been prepared. 

• A decision has been taken to achieve all targets in a time-bound manner. 

• The period from 2026 to 2029 has been declared as mission mode. 

• Timelines have been fixed, different ministries have been made accountable, measurable outcomes have been decided, and quarterly reviews along with outcome-based accountability will be ensured. 

This roadmap is based on four pillars: 

i) Intelligence and operation-based enforcement.

ii) Precursor and synthetic drugs control.

iii) Demand and harm reduction.

iv) Capacity building and coordination. 

• All these pillars together will prepare dossiers of drug kingpins, coordinate on backward-forward linkages, and tighten the noose through financial investigation of every case involving commercial quantities. 

• The BSF, CISF, Indian Coast Guard, Customs and DRI will carry out risk-based profiling and install scanners at land borders, ports, airports and cargo for sharper surveillance. 

• The CBI, Ministry of External Affairs and Interpol will bring back the fugitives. 

• The Enforcement Directorate, Financial Intelligence Unit and the banking system will catch the money trail.

• The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, along with educational institutions, are taking a resolve to make educational institutions drug-free. 

• The social justice, health department and jail administration together are going to increase the number of de-addiction centres threefold to 1,751.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)