India to Become Drug-Free by 2029, Says Amit Shah

India Targets Drug-Free Status by 2029; Amit Shah Unveils Three-Year Mission-Mode Roadmap to Crack Down on Drug Networks

By OdishaConnect On Sep 7, 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced an ambitious target of making India drug-free by 2029, describing the fight against narcotics as the country’s next major national campaign after eliminating Naxalism.

Speaking at a press conference in Goa, Shah unveiled a three-year roadmap from July 2026 to July 2029, saying the campaign against drugs would be implemented in “mission mode” through coordinated efforts by central and state agencies.

Shah said the government has taken several measures against drug trafficking since 2019, focusing on dismantling trafficking networks and disrupting their financial infrastructure. According to him, the government made the fight against narcotics a national security priority in 2019.

As part of the strategy, a four-tier Narcotics Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism was established. Anti-narcotics task forces were also formed across all states and Union Territories to connect local police with the national strategy.

The Home Minister said enforcement has gradually shifted from seizure-focused operations to network-centric action. Investigating agencies have targeted not only drugs and their immediate handlers but also kingpins, associates, distributors and suppliers involved in trafficking networks.

Shah said the government has worked to ensure that the fight against narcotics is no longer limited to separate investigations or isolated action by individual agencies. Instead, it has been transformed into a coordinated and sustained national campaign.

The proposed roadmap for 2026–2029 will further strengthen cooperation between enforcement agencies, state governments and local police. The focus will remain on identifying major trafficking networks, disrupting their financial channels and taking action against those involved in the drug trade.

Shah described the campaign as a major national priority and expressed confidence that coordinated enforcement and sustained action would help India achieve the goal of becoming drug-free by 2029.