Union Home Minister Amit Shah has identified drug abuse and trafficking as the next major internal security challenge for India, setting December 31, 2029, as the target to make the country drug-free. Speaking at the Police Commemoration Day event in New Delhi on October 21, 2026, Shah called on police forces across the country to work together to achieve the goal.
Shah said the Ministry of Home Affairs would focus on tackling narcotics after what he described as progress in addressing three major security challenges: Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and left-wing extremism. He also said India had achieved freedom from Naxalism on March 31, 2026, referring to the government’s stated milestone in its campaign against the decades-old insurgency.
Nationwide Push Against Drug Abuse
Shah urged police forces and other government agencies to implement the Nasha Mukt Bharat roadmap prepared under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He said drug abuse and trafficking threaten the future of young people, place an economic burden on the country and can provide financial support to anti-national organisations.
The government has called for coordinated action involving law enforcement agencies and other departments to prevent drug trafficking, strengthen investigations and disrupt the networks involved in the trade.
Focus on Trafficking Networks and Enforcement
The Ministry of Home Affairs has outlined a roadmap for 2026–2029 to coordinate anti-narcotics efforts. The plan includes enforcement, intelligence and operations; control of precursor chemicals and synthetic drugs; demand reduction and harm reduction; and capacity building and coordination.
At the third National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force heads in September 2026, Shah called for stronger intelligence sharing, financial investigations and action against entire drug-trafficking networks rather than focusing only on seizures. The roadmap also sets targets for awareness and community participation, including the expansion of the Nashamukt Mitra initiative.
Police Role in Internal Security
At the Police Commemoration Day ceremony, Shah paid tribute to police personnel who had lost their lives in the line of duty and highlighted their role in maintaining internal security. He called for police forces across states and Union Territories to coordinate their efforts against drug abuse and trafficking.
The December 2029 deadline sets a clear target for the government’s anti-narcotics campaign. Achieving it will require sustained enforcement, cooperation among agencies, action against trafficking networks and continued efforts to reduce drug demand and harm.
