Mohitt Organised by : Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Time Frame : Sets a 5 year roadmap for the movement
Multi Ministerial Collaboration: Involves ministeries of
youth affairs,social justice,cultural,labour,and home
affairs
Kashi Declaration for Drug-Free India
○ Including the formation of a Joint
National Committee, annual progress
reporting, and a national
platform for linking affected
individuals to supportservices
◎ Core Objectives ➔
○ To treat substance abuse as
a multi-faceted public health
and societalchallenge.
○ To prevent addiction and
support recovery.
○ To foster a national culture
of sobriety.
○ To create “Nasha Mukt Yuva”
as the foundation for “Viksit
Bharat by 2047”
○ To leverage India’s spiritual
capital as a catalyst for healing
and transformation.
◎ Digital Platform Monitoring
➔ Targets online drug sales
and digital addictionsamong
school children
Kashi Declaration for Drug-Free India
◎ Community Outreach ➔ Promotes pledge drives,
Sunday on Cycle fitness campaign,
and grassroots awareness through youth networks.
◎ Annual Review Mechanism ➔ Progress to be assessed
via Viksit Bharat Young
Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026.
◎ Support Services Integration ➔ A proposed national
digital platform to connect at-risk individuals with
counseling, rehabilitation, and emergency help.
Menace of Drug Abuse in India
According to a 2019 report by AIIMS
and the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment;
◦ Over 16 crore Indians consume alcohol, with 5.7 crore
requiring medical help.
◦ More than 2.3 crore people use cannabis and opioids
◦ About 1.08% of 10-75 year old Indians (approximately 1.18
crore people) use sedatives (non-medical, non-prescription
use).
◦ Inhalants are a concern, particularly among children and
adolescents, with a higher prevalence of use (1.17%)
compared
Reasons for drug menace in India
Geographical location: India lies close to the Golden Crescent
and Golden Triangle, major global drug-producing regions.
◦ Easy cross-border smuggling in states like Punjab,
Manipur, and Assam enables drug inflow.
• Youth vulnerability: Peer pressure, stress, unemployment, and
curiosity make youth susceptible to drug use.
• Weak enforcement: Inadequate surveillance, corruption, and
overburdened agencies hinder effective control.
• Easy availability: Online platforms, local peddlers, and
pharmacies make drugs more accessible.
• Social disintegration: Broken families, isolation, and lack of
community support increase addiction risks.
Impact of Drug Abuse
Economic Impact: Drug abuse lowers productivity, increases
healthcare costs, and weakens human capital.
• Health Impact: It causes mental disorders, spreads HIV/AIDS
and hepatitis, and leads to physical deterioration.
• Social Impact: It disrupts families, fuels domestic violence, and
results in social isolation and stigma.
• National Security Impact: Drug trade fosters narco-terrorism,
organised crime, and youth involvement weakens national
integrity
Steps Taken
Indian Initiatives:
◦ Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
(NDPS Act): It prohibits the production, possession, sale,
and consumption of illicit drugs and prescribes penalties
for violations.
◦ Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: Launched in 2020, this
campaign aims to create awareness about the ill effects
of drug abuse and promote a drug-free India.
◦ Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF): Many states have
established ANTFs to strengthen drug law enforcement
at the state level.
◦ DarkNet Monitoring Cell under Narcotics Control Bureau
(NCB) tracks online drug sales.
• Global Initiatives:
◦ United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
The UNODC is at the forefront of the global fight against
illicit drugs. The UNODC-led campaign aims to raise
awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
◦ International Narcotics Control Board (INCB): The INCB
monitors the global drug situation and assesses
countries’ compliance with international drug control
treaties.
