Amit Shah sets December 2029 deadline to make India drug-free

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced a national mission to make India drug-free by December 31, 2029. Speaking at the National Police Memorial in Delhi during Police Commemoration Day, Shah framed the fight against narcotics as a critical challenge for national security, economic stability, and the future of the country's youth.

The government has developed a multi-layered roadmap for the 2026–2029 period based on four primary pillars: intelligence-led operations, control over precursors and synthetic drugs, demand and harm reduction, and the enhancement of institutional capacity and coordination. The strategy aims to move beyond simple seizures to dismantle drug networks, smuggling routes, illegal laboratories, and the financial transactions supporting them.

This initiative follows the government's previous target to eliminate Naxalism (Left-Wing Extremism) by March 31, 2026. Shah emphasized that the fight against drugs requires unified action from police forces across the country to address the menace effectively.