The Centre has launched Mission Nasha Mukt Bharat 2026-29 with the objective of tackling drug abuse through a coordinated national strategy. The mission focuses not only on recovering narcotics but also on dismantling drug networks, disrupting supply chains and expanding rehabilitation and de-addiction services.
The initiative comes at a time when Punjab continues to remain a key focus area in the fight against drugs. The Punjab Police has intensified its anti-drug operations under the state’s War Against Drugs campaign. According to Punjab Police Chief Gaurav Yadav, 228 kg of heroin was seized from the state’s two border areas—Amritsar and Ferozepur—during August.
The Centre’s new strategy is based on four key pillars, 25 components and more than 200 action points. Around 35 ministries, departments and agencies have reportedly contributed to the preparation of the vision document.
Under the mission, the government has identified 272 drug-sensitive districts, including 73 classified as highly sensitive. Seven districts in Punjab have been placed in the highly sensitive category.
The rehabilitation component is also a major part of the campaign. The government plans to establish 1,751 de-addiction centres across the country and 329 rehabilitation centres in prisons. More than 10,000 service providers are also expected to be engaged in the campaign.
Another major objective is to target organised drug trafficking rather than focusing only on individual peddlers. The Centre has set a target of dismantling 100 national and international drug networks by 2029 and bringing back wanted fugitives involved in drug trafficking who are hiding abroad.
The government has also said that a special task force will work across states and Union Territories. Measures include completing sample testing of seized drugs within 30 days and expediting trials in narcotics-related cases.
The Centre has pointed to its earlier efforts to bring fugitives back to India as part of the broader fight against organised crime. Between July 2019 and July 2026, 274 wanted fugitives from 36 countries were reportedly brought back to India.
Punjab, which shares an international border with Pakistan, faces particular challenges from cross-border drug trafficking. The Centre’s emphasis on dismantling complete trafficking networks therefore places greater focus on identifying financiers, suppliers, facilitators and other links in the chain rather than targeting only street-level sellers.
The scale of Mission Nasha Mukt Bharat 2026-29 indicates that the government’s approach is intended to combine enforcement with prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The stated goal is to reduce drug availability, disrupt organised trafficking and expand support for people affected by addiction.