UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Operation RAGEPILL: NCB Busts a Major International Drug Trafficking Network; Makes India’s First-Ever Seizure of Captagon, a Psychotropic Substance used in the Middle East Region

Q1. With reference to 'Captagon', recently in the news after India's first-ever seizure under Operation RAGEPILL, consider the following statements: 1. The original 'Captagon' brand, patented in Germany in 1961, contained fenethylline, a prodrug metabolised in the body into amphetamine and theophylline. 2. Modern illicitly manufactured 'Captagon' tablets typically contain a mixture of amphetamine and caffeine rather than pharmaceutical-grade fenethylline. 3. Fenethylline is internationally controlled under Schedule I of the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The original 'Captagon' brand, patented in Germany in 1961, contained fenethylline, a prodrug metabolised in the body into amphetamine and theophylline.
  2. Modern illicitly manufactured 'Captagon' tablets typically contain a mixture of amphetamine and caffeine rather than pharmaceutical-grade fenethylline.
  3. Fenethylline is internationally controlled under Schedule I of the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Fenethylline, the active pharmacological ingredient of the original 'Captagon' brand, is internationally controlled under which one of the following treaties?

  • A. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961
  • B. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971
  • C. UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988
  • D. UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 2000

Q3. In the context of Operation RAGEPILL (2026), the active constituents of the seized Captagon — Fenethylline and Amphetamine — are regulated in India as 'psychotropic substances' under which one of the following statutes?

  • A. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
  • B. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985
  • C. The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988
  • D. The Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930

Q4. Operation RAGEPILL, conducted by the Narcotics Control Bureau in May 2026, marked India's first-ever seizure of which one of the following psychotropic substances?

  • A. Mephedrone
  • B. Methaqualone
  • C. Captagon
  • D. MDMA (Ecstasy)

Q5. Which one of the following statements best describes the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)?

  • A. A central law enforcement and intelligence agency constituted under Section 4(3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • B. An attached office of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, working under the administrative control of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
  • C. An autonomous regulatory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that licenses the manufacture and sale of psychotropic substances in India.
  • D. A constitutional authority created by amendment to the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution to coordinate inter-State action against drug trafficking.

Q6. With reference to the mandate of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), consider the following statements: 1. Coordination of actions by Central and State agencies under the NDPS Act, 1985, the Customs Act, 1962 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 2. Implementation of the obligations of India in respect of counter measures against illicit traffic under various international conventions on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. 3. Operating government-run medical de-addiction and rehabilitation centres for drug-dependent persons across the country. 4. Assistance to concerned authorities in foreign countries to facilitate universal action for prevention and suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Coordination of actions by Central and State agencies under the NDPS Act, 1985, the Customs Act, 1962 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
  2. Implementation of the obligations of India in respect of counter measures against illicit traffic under various international conventions on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
  3. Operating government-run medical de-addiction and rehabilitation centres for drug-dependent persons across the country.
  4. Assistance to concerned authorities in foreign countries to facilitate universal action for prevention and suppression of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 was enacted primarily to enable the country to discharge its obligations under several United Nations drug-control treaties. Which one of the following is the principal international convention on which the Schedule of 'psychotropic substances' under the Act is modelled?

  • A. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961
  • B. The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971
  • C. The Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988
  • D. The Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 2000

Q8. Which one of the following is the earliest of the three United Nations conventions that together constitute the core of the international drug control system?

  • A. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961
  • B. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971
  • C. United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988
  • D. Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1972

Q9. As provided under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, of how many members does the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) consist?

  • A. 10
  • B. 13
  • C. 15
  • D. 21

Q10. Operation RAGEPILL, under which India recorded its first-ever seizure of Captagon, was led by which one of the following agencies?

  • A. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
  • B. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
  • C. Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN)
  • D. National Investigation Agency (NIA)

Q11. The Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism, as restructured by the Government of India in 2019 for inter-agency coordination on drug law enforcement, comprises how many tiers?

  • A. Two tiers — Apex and State
  • B. Three tiers — Apex, State and District
  • C. Four tiers — Apex, Executive, State and District
  • D. Five tiers — Apex, Executive, Zonal, State and District

Q12. According to the UNODC, which one of the following is the most widely manufactured and trafficked amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) in the world?

  • A. Amphetamine
  • B. Methamphetamine
  • C. MDMA (ecstasy)
  • D. Methcathinone

Q13. In India, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which enforces action against amphetamine-type stimulants and other psychotropic substances under the NDPS Act, 1985, functions under which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • B. Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue)
  • C. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment