**Executive Summary**
Launched on 18 July 2024, the National Narcotics Helpline MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra) serves as a secure digital platform to combat substance abuse and drug trafficking in India. Managed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the initiative enables anonymous reporting, professional counseling, and rehabilitation support through the 1933 helpline and various digital channels. The platform aims to foster a "Nasha Mukt Bharat" by integrating citizen participation with law enforcement through real-time, technology-driven workflows.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Access and Connectivity**
* The platform is accessible 24/7 across India via the toll-free helpline number 1933, a dedicated web portal, email, and the UMANG mobile application.
* Current features include a bilingual platform, with multilingual call support, Smart IVRS, and chatbot integration currently under development to broaden regional reach.
* **Core Functional Services**
* **Confidential Reporting:** Citizens can report drug trafficking, peddling, and illegal cultivation without disclosing their identity.
* **Counseling Support:** Addiction-related calls are seamlessly transferred to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s helpline (14446) for professional guidance.
* **Rehabilitation:** The system provides a direct pipeline for citizens to seek medical help and access government de-addiction centers.
* **Operational Architecture**
* MANAS utilizes digitized workflows for ticket generation, logging, and tracking to ensure transparency and accountability in incident resolution.
* The system integrates data from 30 NCB Zonal Units and 36 State/Union Territory Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) for multi-level information sharing.
* Digital data capture allows agencies to study patterns and trends to plan strategic responses to rising drug-related issues.
* **Awareness and Engagement**
* The platform leverages the MyGov portal to host anti-drug awareness drives, including quizzes, poster contests, and reel-making competitions specifically targeting youth.
* As of June 2026, the platform has recorded over 9.94 lakh connection attempts and generated more than 16,200 actionable intelligence inputs for drug trafficking.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Citizens and General Public**
**Impact:** Provides a safe and anonymous environment to transition from "silent bystanders" to active partners in governance and public safety.
**Action Required:** Report suspicious drug-related activities via the 1933 helpline or the MANAS portal and utilize the platform for confidential assistance.
**Stakeholder: Individuals Affected by Addiction**
**Impact:** Gains streamlined access to professional counseling, therapy, and government-backed rehabilitation services.
**Action Required:** Seek professional medical help through the platform and engage with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's support services.
**Stakeholder: Law Enforcement Agencies (NCB and ANTFs)**
**Impact:** Benefits from improved coordination, faster response times, and a centralized repository of actionable intelligence.
**Action Required:** Monitor digitized workflows and utilize real-time data integration to execute targeted operations against drug trafficking and illegal cultivation.
**Stakeholder: Youth and Students**
**Impact:** Increased awareness of the "vicious circle" of drug supply and demand through interactive digital campaigns.
**Action Required:** Participate in anti-drug competitions and awareness activities hosted on the MyGov platform to promote a drug-free culture.
Key Entities Referenced
MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra): The National Narcotics Helpline and digital platform launched to enable citizens to report drug-related activities and access rehabilitation support.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): The primary law enforcement agency responsible for the operation of MANAS and the coordination of anti-drug efforts across India.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: The national mission aimed at creating a drug-free India, providing the strategic vision for the MANAS initiative.
Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India (2019): A comprehensive foundational report that identified the scale of drug abuse in the country, serving as the basis for the policy's intervention.
Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs): State and Union Territory level enforcement units that receive and act upon real-time intelligence generated through the MANAS platform.
PIB Backgrounder
MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs
National Narcotics Helpline Empowering Citizens for a Nasha
Mukt Bharat
Posted On: 02 JUL 2026 11:22AM by PIB Delhi
MANAS: An Architecture that Puts Power in Citizens' Hands
The Government of India has identified substance abuse and drug trafficking as major social and public
health concerns. Beyond individuals, these issues affect families, communities, and public safety. To
strengthen citizen participation and improve access to support services, the Government recognised the
need for an accessible and confidential platform for reporting drug-related activities and seeking
assistance.
To bridge this need, National Narcotics Helpline MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra)
was launched on 18 July 2024 under the aegis of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of
Home Affairs, Government of India, in collaboration with the Digital India Corporation (DIC). Built as
a secure, technology-driven platform, MANAS enables citizens to report drug-related activities, seek
counselling, and access rehabilitation support at any time.
MANAS brings together the vision of Digital India and the mission of a Nasha Mukt Bharat. The
platform is accessible through the national helpline number 1933, the official portal, email and the
UMANG app. By making support available through these platforms, MANAS empowers citizens to
actively participate in the fight against drug abuse instead of remaining silent bystanders.
Did You Know?
India's first comprehensive report on Magnitude of Substance Abuse of India (2019) revealed the
true scale of the drug abuse problem.
Around 16 crore people consume alcohol, out of these over 5.7 crore are severely affected.
3.1 crore use cannabis, 2.26 crore use opioids, and about 1.18 crore use sedatives.
Roughly 2.8 crore people depend on opioids alone, including about 28 lakh needing urgent
treatment.What MANAS Offers
MANAS is designed around citizen needs, combining reporting, counselling, and awareness within a
single architecture.
Citizens can confidentially report drug trafficking, peddling, illegal cultivation, and related activities
without revealing their identity.
People affected by addiction can access counselling and support, with calls transferred to the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment helpline 14446.
Services remain accessible anytime through the 1933 helpline, the web portal, and the UMANG
application, ensuring nationwide reach.
Digital ticket generation and workflow management enable faster information sharing with
concerned agencies, improving coordination and response time.
Inclusive features such as multilingual call support, a Smart IVRS, chatbot integration and regional
language assistance are being developed to widen access further.How can I help a drug addict?
The drug addict is the victim in the vicious circle of drug supply and demand. He or she should be seen
with respect and encouraged to seek professional and medical help in the nearest government de-
addiction center. He or she should be encouraged for counseling and therapy.
Impact: Steadily Growing Public Trust
Since its launch, MANAS has expanded citizen outreach, strengthened public service delivery, and
improved coordination among drug law-enforcement agencies. The platform has enabled citizens to report
drug-related activities more easily through secure channels. It has also strengthened information-sharing
between citizens and enforcement agencies, improving response mechanisms against drug trafficking and
substance abuse.
It has also improved access to counselling, rehabilitation, and awareness services across the country.
Increasing use of professional counselling support reflects greater willingness among citizens to seek help
for substance abuse concerns. Awareness activities through online platforms have encouraged wider
public and youth participation in anti-drug campaigns. The platform’s fully digitized workflows have
improved coordination and service delivery. It is also supporting the larger vision of a Nasha Mukt
Bharat through technology-driven citizen engagement.
How MANAS Strengthens the Digital India PromiseMANAS is a working example of how technology can be leveraged to protect citizens and deliver public
services. It advances the vision of the mission in clear, practical ways:
MANAS works around the clock, and can be reached from anywhere in India.
It turns public alertness into useful, on-record intelligence, making people active partners in
governance rather than passive recipients of services.
Every report can be logged, registered, tracked and resolved through digitized workflows, bringing
speed, transparency and accountability.
It links the public directly with the 30 NCB Zonal Units and 36 State and Union Territory Anti-
Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs).
The portal is designed as a unified, secure and bilingual platform.
It runs awareness drives on the MyGov portal, such as quizzes, poster contests and reel-making
contests, to engage teenagers and youth across the country.
Because information is captured digitally, the data can be studied for patterns and trends, helping
agencies see where problems are rising and plan their response.
Towards a Nasha Mukt Bharat
MANAS shows how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) can be put to work for citizen protection and
social good. By weaving together technology, citizen participation, counselling, analytics and secure
reporting, the platform is helping build a safer, healthier and drug-free India, one report and one call at a
time. As its reach grows and its tools mature, MANAS stands as a clear example of governance that is
both digital and deeply human.
References
Ministry of Home Affairs
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2153181®=48&lang=2
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2034137®=48&lang=2
https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/may/doc202556550801.pdf
https://ncbmanas.gov.in/show/78
https://www.lgbrimh.gov.in/resources/Addiction_Medicine/elibrary/magnitude_substance_abuse_in
dia.pdf
Click here to see pdf
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