Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 2 August addressed the country's youth — Gen Z — at the launch of the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan' in New Delhi, calling them India's 'Amrit Peedhi' and urging them to stay free of drugs in order to drive the nation toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 goal. The campaign marks a national scale-up of a pilot initiative first launched from Varanasi in 2024.

What Modi Said to Gen Z

Speaking directly to young Indians, Modi said: 'In the next 20-25 years, you will give a direction to your lives. You will be the ones who will take India towards the resolution of Viksit Bharat till 2047, and you will be the ones sitting at the top of the peak, fully savouring the fruits of that achievement. The country needs your energy, creative imagination and talent. Hence, for the country and your own lives, keep yourselves away from drugs.'

He underscored that when a young person falls prey to addiction, the loss extends beyond the individual. 'When a young person falls prey to drug addiction, it is not just that individual who loses; a dream is lost,' he said, warning that 'national strength also weakens' and that hostile nations actively conspire to trap Indian youth in addiction as part of a broader 'terror agenda'.

The Campaign: 100 Sundays, 100 Steps

Modi announced that the next 100 Sundays will each mark a concrete step toward a drug-free India under this initiative. Planned activities include sports events, walkathons, meditation sessions, cultural programmes, and awareness campaigns. The campaign draws on the Kashi Declaration — a five-year roadmap for a drug-free India adopted in July 2025 at the Youth Spiritual Summit in Varanasi — and has the active participation of 125 spiritual organisations across the country.

Modi noted his personal connection to the initiative: 'As an MP from Kashi, I am happy that last year, this project was launched from the holy land of Kashi as a pilot project. Therefore, in addition to scientific clarity, it also possesses spiritual energy, the blessings of saints, and cultural heritage.'

On Rehabilitation and Family Responsibility

The Prime Minister called on families and educators to take proactive roles. He urged parents not to let social stigma prevent them from seeking help: 'Do not hide it behind the pressure of social reputation. Those who need help should seek support. Talk openly with them, take the help of experts, and make efforts to free your child from addiction with the support of medical professionals.'

He outlined behavioural warning signs for parents to watch — changes in conduct, social withdrawal, staying locked in rooms, returning home late, or making unusual financial demands. He also appealed to college and university faculty: 'Along with academic studies, please talk to students about the dangers of drugs.'

Broader Significance

The campaign arrives as drug abuse among Indian youth has drawn increasing policy attention, with multiple state governments reporting rising cases of substance dependency among adolescents and young adults. By anchoring the initiative in both the Viksit Bharat 2047 framework and the spiritual legacy of Varanasi, the Centre is attempting to give the anti-drug push both policy weight and cultural resonance. Notably, the involvement of 125 spiritual organisations signals an effort to reach communities where institutional outreach has historically been limited.

With guidelines for the 100-Sunday rollout expected to be operationalised immediately, the campaign's real test will be whether it translates grassroots energy into measurable reductions in youth drug dependency across states.