Amit Shah to inaugurate 3rd ANTF Conference in Delhi on 23 Sep
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah will kick off a two-day national drug-control summit on 23 September, bringing all 36 state and UT anti-narcotics chiefs under one roof. Beyond speeches, the conference carries concrete deliverables — foundation stones for two new NCB zones, a revamped bureau website, and a review of enforcement targets set under the freshly minted 2026-29 Vision Document.
Key Takeaways
Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the 3rd National ANTF Conference in New Delhi on 23 September 2026 .
The two-day event is organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and brings together ANTF heads from all 36 states and Union Territories .
Shah will lay foundation stones for new NCB Zone complexes in Lucknow and Dehradun and launch the revamped NCB website .
The conference will review targets set under the Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-29) across four strategic pillars and eight technical sessions .
The government's stated goal links a drug-free India directly to Prime Minister Modi's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the 3rd National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) heads of states and Union Territories in New Delhi on Tuesday, 23 September 2026, marking a two-day deliberation on reinforcing India's offensive against drug trafficking and substance abuse. The conference, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), brings together ANTF heads from all 36 states and Union Territories under the theme 'United Resolve, Shared Responsibility'.
Key Developments at the Conference
During the inauguration, Shah will release television commercials (TVCs) designed to raise public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of staying substance-free. He will also lay the foundation stones for new NCB Zone complexes in Lucknow and Dehradun, signalling an expansion of the bureau's operational footprint across northern India.
The best-performing ANTF among participating states and Union Territories will be felicitated at the event. The revamped NCB website is also set to be officially launched during the conference, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
Agenda and Strategic Pillars
The two-day programme includes eight technical sessions structured around four strategic pillars drawn from the recently released Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-29): Enforcement, Intelligence and Operations; Precursors and Synthetic Drugs Control; Demand and Harm Reduction; and Capacity Building and Coordination.
The conference will review progress against targets assigned to state and UT ANTFs under the Vision Document and identify further strategies for supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
What the Government Said
Officials noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister Shah, the government is working in 'mission mode' to shield the country's youth from drug abuse. 'Prime Minister Modi has set the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, and realising this vision is not possible without building a drug-free India. This conference will serve as a powerful platform to safeguard future generations from the menace of drugs,' an official said.
Whole-of-Government Approach
Representatives from various government departments, agencies, and other stakeholders are also expected to participate in the deliberations. The discussions will underline the need for a whole-of-government approach, with all participating states, UTs, and agencies expected to renew their collective commitment towards tackling drug trafficking over the next three years.
The conference is also expected to deepen the partnership between the NCB and state and UT ANTFs, paving the way for more coordinated enforcement action going forward.
Point of View
Which is more significant than the inauguration optics suggest — it means states are now being benchmarked against written targets, not just exhorted. The foundation stones for NCB zones in Lucknow and Dehradun point to a long-overdue geographic expansion of enforcement infrastructure in states that sit on well-documented trafficking corridors. Whether the whole-of-government language translates into genuine inter-agency data sharing — historically the weakest link in Indian drug enforcement — is the real question this conference must answer. Awards and TVCs make for good visuals; accountability frameworks and shared intelligence architectures do the actual work.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 3rd National ANTF Conference?
It is a two-day national summit organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), bringing together Anti-Narcotics Task Force heads from all 36 states and Union Territories to review drug enforcement strategy and set coordinated targets for the next three years. The conference is being held in New Delhi on 23 September 2026 under the theme 'United Resolve, Shared Responsibility'.
What will Home Minister Amit Shah do at the conference?
Amit Shah will formally inaugurate the conference, release anti-drug awareness television commercials, lay the foundation stones for new NCB Zone complexes in Lucknow and Dehradun, and oversee the launch of the revamped NCB website. He will also preside over the felicitation of the best-performing state or UT ANTF.
What is the NCB Vision Document on Narcotics Control 2026-29?
It is a recently released government roadmap that assigns specific targets to state and UT ANTFs and organises action under four pillars: Enforcement, Intelligence and Operations; Precursors and Synthetic Drugs Control; Demand and Harm Reduction; and Capacity Building and Coordination. The 3rd ANTF Conference will review progress against these targets and identify gaps.
Why is a drug-free India linked to Viksit Bharat 2047?
Officials have argued that Prime Minister Modi's long-term development goal of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 cannot be achieved without protecting the youth from substance abuse, as drug dependency directly undermines workforce productivity and social stability. The government has framed counter-narcotics efforts as a foundational plank of that broader national vision.
Who else will participate in the conference besides ANTF heads?
Representatives from various Central government departments, law-enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders are expected to join the deliberations alongside ANTF chiefs from all 36 states and Union Territories. The conference is designed to reinforce a whole-of-government approach to tackling drug trafficking and substance abuse.
