Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (September 6, 2026) said the Narendra Modi government has prepared a roadmap to make India drug-free by 2029, asserting that a drug-free youth population would lead to the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The Centre has adopted a coordinated, nationwide strategy to dismantle the entire narcotics network, from drug trafficking to financing, while also focusing on rehabilitation, as part of its goal of achieving a ‘Drug-Free India’ by 2029, he said.
Agencies were often satisfied catching small-time accused. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been strengthened by reorganising its cadre and enhancing its manpower, zonal presence and operational capabilities, Mr. The government’s three-year roadmap to a drug-free India is based on a four-pillared approach to destroy narcotic networks, Mr. Mr. Mr. “The Modi government has taken various steps to improve and strengthen internal security. Referring to the Northeast, Mr. Mr.
“Before 2014, the fight against narcotics was largely conducted in small units and isolation. In 2019, a four-tier National Coordination Committee for Countering Drug Trafficking (NCORD) mechanism was created at the executive, State and district levels to ensure coordinated action against the drug menace. He said a Joint Coordination Committee was also formed in 2019 to enable central agencies and State governments to take joint decisions against major drug networks, their international connections and operational gaps. The government has linked awareness, treatment, counselling, rehabilitation and livelihood opportunities with the anti-narcotics campaign, he pointed out, adding that the 1933 MANAS helpline has been introduced to support persons with drug addiction. Shah said the Centre has a target of dismantling 100 national and international drug networks by March 2029 and bringing back 100 fugitives to the country. By March 2027, there will be end-to-end visibility of the narcotics supply chain, while at least 75 secret laboratories will be destroyed in 2026, he said. Between July 2019 and July 2026, as many as 274 wanted or absconding criminals were brought back to India from 36 countries, he said. Over the past three years, 401 Red Corner Notices have been issued, including 182 up to July 2026, Mr. He said more than 1,400 Central and State agencies have been connected through Interpol, facilitating faster information sharing. Between 2019 and 2026, assets worth ₹17,874 crore belonging to fugitives were attached, while ₹18,762 crore was recovered or restored, the Union Home Minister informed. Shah said 14 major peace agreements have been signed since 2019, and around 11,000 armed youths have laid down their weapons and joined the mainstream. He said India ended the nearly six-decade-old challenge of Left-Wing Extremism on March 31, 2026, through a coordinated strategy combining security, development and trust. Shah also highlighted the government’s efforts against cybercrime, saying the cyber system has helped save more than ₹11,158 crore across 32.8 lakh complaints as of June 30, 2026. He also praised the Goa police for an effective implementation of the three new criminal laws, saying the conviction rate has increased from 22% to 53.2%. Earlier reporting noted: Amit Shah launches Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029 roadmap, vows zero narcotics across borders Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday pledged that not a single gram of narcotics would either enter or leave India through its borders as he launched a roadmap for Nasha Mukt Bharat 2029 (Drug-Free India 2029), focused on supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction. Earlier reporting noted: During his press conference, Shah said that since 2019, the Government of India had begun a coordinated campaign to tackle drug networks. Earlier reporting noted: “Before 2014, action against narcotics was done in bits and pieces and in isolated silos; the scope of action was limited to small seizures and small-time accused. After becoming the Home Minister in 2019, I ensured that the fight against narcotics transitions from files and isolated actions by different agencies into a national, coordinated, and continuous campaign,” he said.
“It is Narendra Modi’s objective that drug-free youth power will lead to Viksit Bharat in 2047,” Mr. Shah said at a press conference after chairing a high-level meeting on narcotics attended by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and officials of the Union Home Ministry and the State government. Our government is making the fight a national security priority,” he said. “Dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) have been constituted in all States and Union Territories, and local police have been linked with the national strategy,” Shah said. Shah said, while emphasising that the fight against drugs was not just limited to enforcement. Shah said. “These pillars include intelligence and operation-based enforcement, control on synthetic drugs, demand and harm reduction and creation of capacity and coordination,” he explained. He said the government has also adopted a mission-mode approach to bring back fugitives hiding abroad. Shah also said that the government’s internal security strategy has succeeded in addressing three long-standing challenges—terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and left-wing extremism. Jammu and Kashmir is on the path of progress and development after the decline of terrorism, which is “gradually approaching zero”, he said, adding that the sentiment of separatism has lessened since the abrogation of Article 370. Those who dreamt of a ‘red’ (Maoist) corridor from Tirupati to Pashupati have laid down arms and joined the mainstream,” he said. “We have eradicated Naxalism and will deal with the menace of narcotics in the same manner,” the Union Minister asserted. He said strengthening border and coastal security, implementing three new criminal laws, and the Vibrant Villages Programme were among the measures taken to strengthen internal security. The Union Minister said the government has adopted a “zero tolerance” policy towards terrorism and a first-responder approach to disaster management.
