The Ministry of Home Affairs has unveiled an ambitious three-year plan to eliminate drug abuse across India by 2029. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the initiative at a press conference in Panaji, Goa, framing the effort as a matter of national security. The roadmap will involve coordination between multiple central ministries, state governments, and agencies to combat drug trafficking, addiction, and related criminal networks.
The Plan and Its Structure
The Drug-free India initiative runs from July 2026 to July 2029 and rests on four pillars: intelligence and enforcement operations; control of precursor and synthetic drugs; demand reduction and harm mitigation; and institutional capacity building with coordination across agencies.
The government plans to:
- Increase de-addiction centres from the current number to 1,751 through joint work by the Department of Social Justice, Health Department, and Prison Administration
- Deploy around 10,000 volunteers across the campaign
- Provide 7 per cent central assistance to establish fully equipped Anti-Narcotics Task Forces in every state by March 2027
- Ensure forensic reports are completed within 30 days
- Engage the National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, and My Bharat platform to train hundreds of thousands of citizens as drug-awareness ambassadors
The roadmap encompasses 25 components and over 200 specific action points, each with fixed timelines and measurable targets. Quarterly reviews will monitor progress with outcome-based accountability.
Under the existing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, the government states that 250 million citizens have been administered a pledge against drugs, and 570,000 have been freed from addiction through treatment. Between 2014 and 2026, over 11.9 million kilograms of drugs valued at ₹1.89 lakh crore were seized, compared to 2.6 million kilograms worth ₹40,000 crore during 2004 to 2014.
To counter international smuggling through what officials term the Death Triangle and Death Crescent routes, the government will deploy a four-pronged approach involving border security forces, customs authorities, financial intelligence units, and international cooperation through Interpol.
What this means for you
If you or someone you know struggles with substance abuse, more treatment centres will be available and expanded rehabilitation support is on the way. Educational institutions are being targeted for drug-free certification, affecting students and campus environments. The plan also signals stepped-up enforcement activity against drug networks and dealers, with financial investigations targeting money flows linked to narcotics trade.