**Executive Summary**
This document is the response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs to Unstarred Question No. 2716 in the Lok Sabha, scheduled to be answered on December 16, 2025. The question pertains to the Government's strategies and efforts in combating drug trafficking and drug abuse, both domestically and internationally. The document details the National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, measures to curb synthetic drug abuse, and international collaborations to control drug trafficking.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (2012):**
* Formulated by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
* Provides a unified framework for regulating the medical and scientific use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
* Ensures stringent controls to prevent diversion, trafficking, and abuse.
* Underscores a balanced approach encompassing awareness generation, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
* **Measures to Curb Synthetic Drug Abuse:**
* 18 new precursor chemicals have been notified in Schedule B & C of Regulation of Controlled Substances (RCS) Order on 23.01.2025, bringing the total to 45.
* Lists of companies with Unique Registration Numbers (URNs) for precursor chemicals have been shared with states and relevant agencies for strict monitoring.
* Maritime surveillance systems have been strengthened in coastal regions.
* India is actively participating in Global coalitions to address synthetic drug threats.
* **Additional Initiatives:**
* Better utilization of international communication systems (IONICS and PICS) for sharing data related to synthetic drugs and precursors.
* DRI and Customs formations maintain constant vigil against smuggling.
* Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts, reaching over 24.9 crore people.
* Financial assistance provided to 349 Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs), 45 Community based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) Centers, 76 Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs), 154 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs), 139 District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) across the country.
* Launched 1933-MANAS Helpline for citizens to report drug-related issues.
* Toll-free Helpline No. 14446 is operated for de-addiction assistance.
* Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with spiritual organizations to support NMBA.
* **International Efforts to Control Drug Trafficking:**
* Director General Level Talks/ Bilateral talks are organized with neighboring and other countries.
* Bilateral Agreements with 27 countries and Memoranda of Understanding with 19 countries have been signed to combat illicit trafficking.
* Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) co-ordinates with various international organizations, including SAARC-SDOMD, BRICS, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, SCO, UNODC, and INCB.
* NCB shares real-time information with Drug Liaison Officers of other countries (e.g., DEA of the USA, National Crime Agency of the UK).
**Impact Analysis**
**Government Agencies (Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, NCB, DRI, Customs)**
* **Impact:** Required to implement and enforce the National Policy, monitor precursor chemicals, and collaborate with international organizations.
* **Action Required:** Stringent monitoring of controlled substances, participation in international collaborations, maintain vigil against smuggling.
**State Governments and Law Enforcement Agencies**
* **Impact:** Responsible for monitoring precursor chemical diversion and implementing drug abuse prevention measures.
* **Action Required:** Monitor diversion of precursor chemicals, collaborate with central agencies, and implement drug abuse prevention programs.
**Citizens**
* **Impact:** Benefit from increased awareness, access to treatment and rehabilitation facilities, and the ability to report drug-related issues.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available helplines to seek help and report drug-related activities.
**International Organizations**
* **Impact:** Collaboration with India in information sharing and joint operations to combat drug trafficking.
* **Action Required:** Share intelligence, participate in collaborative efforts, and support India's initiatives against drug trafficking.
Key Entities Referenced
National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances: A 2012 policy providing a framework for regulating the medical and scientific use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, preventing their diversion, trafficking and abuse.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA): A nation-wide initiative focused on creating a drug-free India, encompassing awareness generation, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): Agency responsible for coordinating with international organizations to combat transnational drug trafficking.
Ministry of Home Affairs: The primary ministry responsible for addressing drug trafficking, as indicated by the question directed to the Minister.
Regulation of Controlled Substances (RCS) Order: Order used to regulate precursor chemicals and controlled substances in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2716
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 25, 1947
(SAKA)
COMBATING DRUG TRAFFICKING
†2716. SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has formulated any strategy to combat drug
abuse;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to curb the increasing
prevalence of synthetic drug abuse among youth; and
(d) the efforts being made by the Government at the international level to
control drug trafficking?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) & (b) The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance formulated the
National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in 2012,
providing a unified framework for regulating the medical and scientific
use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances while ensuring
stringent controls to prevent their diversion, trafficking and abuse. The
policy underscores a balanced approach encompassing awareness
generation, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration, delivered-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2716 FOR 16.12.2025
through Government hospitals and an extensive network of NGOs
supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It further
mandates the institutionalization of regular national surveys to monitor
trends in drug abuse and to guide evidence-based interventions.
(c) The Government has taken various measures to curb the production,
trafficking of synthetic drugs and to counter drug abuse, some of which
are as under: -
(i) 18 new precursor chemicals used in manufacture of synthetic drugs
have been notified in Schedule B & C of Regulation of Controlled
Substances (RCS) Order on 23.01.2025 taking the number of controlled
substances to 45.
(ii) List of companies to which Unique registration Number (URN) have
been issued by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for precursor chemicals
has been shared with all States, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
& Intelligence Bureau and request has been made to strictly monitor
diversion of precursor chemicals.
(iii) Maritime surveillance systems have been strengthened to prevent
trafficking of drugs including synthetic drugs through coastal regions.
(iv) India is actively participating in Global coalitions to address
synthetic drugs threats. This involves increased information sharing, joint-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2716 FOR 16.12.2025
operations and collaborative efforts to track and disrupt international
drug trafficking networks.
(v) Better utilization of International Operation on NPS Incident
Communication System (IONICS) and Precursor Incident Communication
System (PICS) portals of INCB for sharing and receiving data related with
Synthetic drugs and precursors and further taking suitable actions.
(vi) To deter smuggling of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and
MDMA, DRI and Customs filed formations keep a constant vigil and take
operational measures.
(vii) Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the
country. It has reached out to more-than 24.9 crore people including 8.7
crore youth and 6 crore women.
(viii) Government is providing financial assistance to 349 Integrated
Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs), 45 Community based Peer
Led Intervention (CPLI) Centers, 76 Outreach and Drop In Centers
(ODICs), 154 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs), 139 District De-
addiction Centres (DDACs) across the country.
(ix) The Government has launched 1933- MANAS Helpline designed as a
unified platform for citizens to report the drug-related issues via multiple
communication.-4-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2716 FOR 16.12.2025
(x) A Toll-free Helpline No.14446 for de-addiction is operated for
providing primary counseling and immediate assistance to persons
seeking help.
(xi) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with
Spiritual organizations to support NMBA and conduct mass awareness
activities.
(d) The Government is making various efforts at the international level
to control drug trafficking, some of which are as under: -
(i) Director General Level Talks/ Bilateral talks are organized with
neighboring and other countries such as Myanmar, Iran, Bangladesh,
Indonesia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, etc. to resolve various
issues on drug trafficking having international implications.
(ii) As a part of international co-operation, India has signed Bilateral
Agreements with 27 countries, Memorandum of Understanding with 19
countries for combating illicit trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) and Chemical Precursors as well as
related offences.
(iii) Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) co-ordinates with various
international organizations such as South Asian Association for-5-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 2716 FOR 16.12.2025
Regional Cooperation- Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SAARC-SDOMD),
Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), Colombo Plan,
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Senior Officials
on Drug Matters (ASOD), Bay of Bengal Initiative For Multi-Sectoral
Technical and Economic Co-Operation (BIMSTEC), Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),
International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), etc. for sharing information
and intelligence to combat trans-national drug trafficking.
(iv) NCB takes part in real-time information sharing with various Drug
Liaison Officers of other countries such as the Drug Enforcement Agency
(DEA) of the United States of America, the National Crime Agency of the
United Kingdom, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Canada,
Australian Federal Police (AFP) of Australia, Office Anti-Stupefiants
(OFAST) of France, etc for operational and intelligence information.
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