National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: progress and expansion

📌 Summary:

• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (nodal ministry for drug demand reduction) implements NAPDDR — a comprehensive framework for prevention, awareness, capacity building, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) launched in 2020 to intensify these efforts through a whole-of-government, whole-of-society and Jan Andolan approach
• 2019 'Magnitude of Substance Use in India' survey: 7+ crore individuals affected by substance use disorder, including ~1.2 crore children and 58 lakh women
• 768 de-addiction and rehabilitation centres operational; persons seeking treatment rose 294% — from 2.08 lakh (2020) to 8.20+ lakh (2025)
• Toll-free de-addiction helpline 14446 has received 4.69 lakh calls; NMBA App 2.0 launched for real-time uploading of field activity data
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah (17–26 June, DSVV Haridwar) saw 1.31+ crore citizens participate in awareness and community mobilisation activities

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — welfare mechanisms for vulnerable sections, drug abuse as a social justice issue; GS3 — demand-side complement to supply-side drug enforcement (NDPS/NCB).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• NAPDDR nodal ministry: Social Justice & Empowerment (not Home Affairs)
• NMBA launched 2020; de-addiction helpline: 14446
• 2019 national survey: 7+ crore affected by substance use disorder

🔑 Key Term: NAPDDR — National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, MoSJE's umbrella framework addressing the demand side of drug abuse (prevention, treatment, rehabilitation), complementing supply-side enforcement under the NDPS Act.