5 June 2026·PIB

MoSJE Strengthens National Fight Against Substance Abuse Through Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation

In this note

1. At a Glance

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) is the nodal ministry for drug demand reduction in India, operating via the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) [1].
Approach is people-centric: prevention, awareness, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration, framing addiction as a substance use disorder (SUD) — a public-health/psychosocial issue, not merely criminal [1].
Pairs with the MHA-led supply-side response (NDPS Act, NCB) — UPSC frequently tests this demand-side vs supply-side ministry split.

PIB release, 5 June 2026: MoSJE reaffirmed expansion of NAPDDR + NMBA covering prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, with renewed push on community reintegration [1].
Anchored to the first national survey on substance use whose findings continue to shape the rollout [1][4].

1985 — NDPS Act enacted (supply-side base).
February 2019 — NDDTC-AIIMS report "Magnitude of Substance Use in India" submitted to MoSJE; first national survey [4].
NAPDDR (2018-2025) — MoSJE's umbrella scheme for demand reduction [1].
15 August 2020 — Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan launched; initially in 272 most-affected districts, later 372 districts, now nationwide [3].

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (Department of Social Justice & Empowerment) [1].
Flagship Scheme: NAPDDR; Flagship Campaign: NMBA [1][3].
Survey Implementer: NDDTC, AIIMS New Delhi (2018; report 2019) [4].
Key survey findings (10–75 yr population):
Alcohol — ~16 crore users (most common psychoactive substance) [4].
Cannabis — ~3.10 crore users [4].
Opioids — ~2.26 crore users [4].
Service delivery: 538 NGOs/VOs supported under NAPDDR for IRCAs (Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts), ODICs (Outreach & Drop-In Centres), de-addiction services, awareness and reintegration [3].
ATFs — 25 Addiction Treatment Facilities in Government hospitals as a special NMBA initiative [3].
MoUs — with Brahma Kumaris and All World Gayatri Pariwar to widen NMBA outreach [3].
Coverage: NMBA originally 272 → 372 districts, expanded pan-India [3].

Social — Targets youth, women, children; focuses on schools, universities, tribal pockets and high-risk districts; combats stigma by reframing addiction as a disorder, not crime [1][3].
Administrative / Federalism — Demand-side (MoSJE) vs supply-side (MHA's NCB, NDPS enforcement) split; State governments run de-addiction under health departments, creating coordination gaps [1].
Public Health — Categorised as a psychosocial and public-health challenge; integrated with AIIMS-NDDTC technical lead and government-hospital ATFs [1][3].
Legal / Constitutional — Reinforces DPSP Article 47 (State to bring about prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health); operates alongside NDPS Act, 1985 [1].
Economic — Substance abuse undermines productivity, social cohesion and human potential, raising healthcare burden [1].

5 June 2026 — PIB release reiterating NAPDDR + NMBA strategy, prevention-to-reintegration continuum [1].
Expansion of NMBA from 372 districts to nationwide coverage [3].
538 NGOs now under NAPDDR funding umbrella [3].

Nodal ministry for drug demand reduction: MoSJE, not MHA [1].
NMBA launched on 15 August 2020 [3].
NMBA initially covered 272 districts, expanded to 372 [3].
NAPDDR is the umbrella scheme under which NMBA operates [1].
First National Survey on Substance Use conducted by NDDTC-AIIMS New Delhi, report submitted February 2019 [4].
Alcohol (~16 crore) is the most-used psychoactive substance in India [4].
Cannabis ~3.10 crore; Opioids ~2.26 crore users [4].
25 ATFs in government hospitals under NMBA [3].
MoUs signed with Brahma Kumaris and All World Gayatri Pariwar [3].
538 NGOs/VOs supported under NAPDDR for IRCAs/ODICs [3].
NDPS Act, 1985 is the supply-side enforcement statute (NCB under MHA).
Article 47 is the relevant DPSP.

GS-II: Government policies and interventions for vulnerable sections; issues relating to development and management of Social Sector / Services — Health.
GS-III: Internal security — linkages of organised crime with drug trafficking (NDPS/NCB angle).
Possible question stems: 1. "Substance abuse in India is increasingly being treated as a public-health problem rather than a criminal one. Critically examine in light of NAPDDR and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan." (GS-II) 2. "Discuss the institutional architecture for tackling drug abuse in India, distinguishing demand-side and supply-side responses." (GS-III) 3. "Evaluate the role of community participation and civil society in India's de-addiction strategy."

NDPS Act, 1985 — supply-side statutory framework.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) — MHA agency; complementary to MoSJE.
Article 47 DPSP — constitutional anchor.
AIIMS-NDDTC — technical knowledge partner.
PIT-NDPS Act, 1988 — preventive detention in narcotics.
UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 & UNODC — international regime.
SDG 3.5 — strengthen prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
Golden Crescent & Golden Triangle — geography of drug trafficking affecting India.

Wrong ministry: NAPDDR/NMBA are under MoSJE, not MHA or MoHFW.
NCB ≠ MoSJE — NCB sits under MHA for supply-side enforcement.
Survey agency: National Survey done by NDDTC-AIIMS, not NSSO or NCRB [4].
NMBA launch date is 15 Aug 2020, not the date of NAPDDR notification.
Article 47 (DPSP), not a Fundamental Right — examiners often swap it with Article 21.
Confusing IRCAs (rehab centres) with ODICs (outreach/drop-in) and ATFs (hospital-based treatment) — distinct service tiers.