The Gujarat Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has announced a nationwide creative competition — the 'Drug Awareness Content Creation Competition-2026' — inviting students, filmmakers, content creators, and citizens to produce reels and short films on the dangers of drug abuse, illegal trafficking, and the social and economic consequences of narcotics. The competition opens for entries on 28 September 2026 and closes on 27 October 2026.

Prize Money and Categories

The contest carries cash prizes of up to ₹2.5 lakh in the short film category and up to ₹2 lakh in the reel category. In the short film segment, first, second, and third prizes stand at ₹2.5 lakh, ₹2 lakh, and ₹1.5 lakh respectively. In the reel category, the corresponding prizes are ₹2 lakh, ₹1.5 lakh, and ₹1 lakh, with consolation prizes of ₹20,000 each for participants ranked fourth to tenth.

Who Can Participate and How

The competition is open to all Indian residents — students, professionals, designers, musicians, non-governmental organisations, advertising agencies, and members of the general public. Participants may enter individually or as teams, and each contestant is permitted to submit up to three entries. Entries must be submitted via a Google Form or by email, accompanied by the participant's Unique ID, personal details, and a Google Drive link containing the content.

Short films must run between eight and 12 minutes in Full HD with a 16:9 landscape ratio, while reels must be no longer than two minutes in Full HD with a 9:16 vertical ratio. Only content produced in Gujarati or Hindi will be accepted.

Themes and Eligibility Criteria

The ANTF has outlined a broad range of approved themes, including the health risks of drug use, rehabilitation and recovery pathways, relevant legal provisions under narcotic laws, early warning signs, reporting mechanisms for illegal trafficking, and the financial burden narcotics impose on families and communities. Entries must also address stigma reduction and the responsibilities of affected persons and their families.

Content must be original, factual, and suitable for public awareness campaigns. Entries must not glorify drug use or trafficking. Medical and legal information must not be misleading, and participants must hold the necessary copyrights for any music, images, footage, or graphics used. Content containing hate speech, defamation, obscenity, or stigmatising portrayals will be disqualified. The ANTF Gujarat logo and its official toll-free helpline number are mandatory inclusions.

Judging and Use of Winning Content

Entries will be evaluated on the clarity and relevance of messaging, creativity, factual accuracy, potential public awareness impact, and technical quality. Winning submissions may be deployed on ANTF's official social media platforms, digital campaigns, and websites, as well as in schools, colleges, and public awareness programmes across the state.

Wider Context

The initiative follows the Centre's third national conference of heads of state and Union Territory ANTFs, which focused on strengthening demand reduction, prevention, and rehabilitation strategies to counter drug trafficking and substance abuse. The competition represents a shift toward citizen-driven awareness — leveraging the reach of social media creators alongside law enforcement messaging. Notably, by channelling the short-form video boom into anti-drug communication, the ANTF is adapting a format that has historically been associated with entertainment into a public health instrument.