The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance formulated the National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in 2012, providing a unified framework for regulating the medical and scientific use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances while ensuring stringent controls to prevent their diversion, trafficking and abuse. The policy underscores a balanced approach encompassing awareness generation, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration, delivered through Government hospitals and an extensive network of NGOs supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It further mandates the institutionalization of regular national surveys to monitor trends in drug abuse and to guide evidence-based interventions.

The Government has taken various measures to curb the production, trafficking of synthetic drugs and to counter drug abuse, some of which are as under: -

1. 1. 18 new precursor chemicals used in manufacture of synthetic drugs have been notified in Schedule B & C of Regulation of Controlled Substances (RCS) Order on 23.01.2025 taking the number of controlled substances to 45.
   2. List of companies to which Unique registration Number (URN) have been issued by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for precursor chemicals has been shared with all States, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) & Intelligence Bureau and request has been made to strictly monitor diversion of precursor chemicals.
   3. Maritime surveillance systems have been strengthened to prevent trafficking of drugs including synthetic drugs through coastal regions.
   4. India is actively participating in Global coalitions to address synthetic drugs threats. This involves increased information sharing, joint operations and collaborative efforts to track and disrupt international drug trafficking networks.
2. 5. Better utilization of International Operation on NPS Incident Communication System (IONICS) and Precursor Incident Communication System (PICS) portals of INCB for sharing and receiving data related with Synthetic drugs and precursors and further taking suitable actions.
   6. To deter smuggling of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and MDMA, DRI and Customs filed formations keep a constant vigil and take operational measures.
   7. Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the country. It has reached out to more-than 24.9 crore people including 8.7 crore youth and 6 crore women.
   8. Government is providing financial assistance to 349 Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs), 45 Community based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI)  Centers, 76 Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs), 154 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs), 139 District De- addiction Centres (DDACs) across the country.
   9. The Government has launched 1933- MANAS Helpline designed as a unified platform for citizens to report the drug-related issues via multiple communication.
   10. A Toll-free Helpline No.14446 for de-addiction is operated for providing primary counseling and immediate assistance to persons seeking help.
   11. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with Spiritual organizations to support NMBA and conduct mass awareness activities.

The Government is making various efforts at the international level to control drug trafficking, some of which are as under: -

1. 12. Director General Level Talks/ Bilateral talks are organized with neighboring and other countries such as Myanmar, Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, etc. to resolve various issues on drug trafficking having international implications.
   13. As a part of international co-operation, India has signed Bilateral Agreements with 27 countries, Memorandum of Understanding with 19 countries for combating illicit trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) and Chemical Precursors as well as related offences.
   14. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) co-ordinates with various international  organizations  such  as  South  Asian  Association  for Regional Cooperation- Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SAARC-SDOMD), Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), Colombo Plan, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD), Bay of Bengal Initiative For Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-Operation (BIMSTEC), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), etc. for sharing information and intelligence to combat trans-national drug trafficking.
2. 15. NCB takes part in real-time information sharing with various Drug Liaison Officers of other countries such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of the United States of America, the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Canada, Australian Federal Police (AFP) of Australia, Office Anti-Stupefiants (OFAST) of France, etc for operational and intelligence information.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

 

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