Government to amend NDPS Act; Amit Shah releases Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029)

📌 Summary:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Department of Revenue will amend the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to plug loopholes exploited by narco-syndicates
• States have been asked to submit suggestions to address regulatory gaps
• A 'Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029)' was released, built on the strategy of "detect, disrupt and destroy"
• The amendment will adopt a more reformative approach towards drug users/addicts (treatment over criminalisation)
• States urged to target traffickers and gangsters hiding abroad via Red Corner Notices, with CBI assistance

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Internal security challenges from drug trafficking; role of legislation (NDPS Act) and Centre-State coordination; balancing deterrence with a reformative, public-health approach to addiction

📝 Prelims Facts:

• NDPS Act, 1985 governs narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India
• Vision Document on Drug Control covers 2026-2029; theme "detect, disrupt and destroy"
• Red Corner Notice = Interpol alert to locate/provisionally arrest a person pending extradition
• Nodal anti-narcotics agency: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

🔑 Key Term: NDPS Act — the principal legislation prohibiting production, sale, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, with provisions for both punishment and de-addiction