Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan turns 6: Govt plans mass drug pledge for 10 crore citizens
Synopsis
As the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan turns six, the Centre is planning its most ambitious outreach yet — a nationwide pledge drive targeting over 10 crore citizens. With 34.56 crore already reached since 2020 and 1.64 lakh community volunteers enrolled, the government is betting on coordinated ministry-level mobilisation to hit a new scale.
Key Takeaways
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment held coordination meetings on 3 September to plan the National Mass Pledge Against Drug Abuse .
The pledge targets more than 10 crore citizens through physical and online participation this month.
The drive marks the sixth anniversary of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) , launched on 15 August 2020 .
The campaign has so far reached 34.56 crore citizens , including 13.71 crore youth and 10.65 crore women .
More than 1.64 lakh Nasha Mukti Mitras have joined as community volunteers.
The Ministry operates under the evidence-based National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) .
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on Thursday, 3 September convened high-level coordination meetings in New Delhi to finalise the strategy for the National Mass Pledge Against Drug Abuse, scheduled later this month to mark the sixth anniversary of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA). The government aims to mobilise more than 10 crore citizens through both physical and online participation for the pledge drive.
Key Developments at the Coordination Meetings
Two high-level meetings were chaired by Joint Secretary (Drug Prevention) Sandeep Rewaji Rathod, who reviewed implementation strategy and outlined the roles of Line Ministries and Departments in mobilising officers, officials, students, parents, volunteers, and other stakeholders. The sessions were also attended by Director Astik Kumar Pandey of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Under Secretary Arun Kumar Karn, and senior representatives from multiple ministries.
According to an official statement, the meetings focused on a comprehensive strategy to ensure participation reaches the target figure, with Line Ministries expected to play a central role in outreach.
About the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan
The NMBA was launched on 15 August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to combat drug demand across India. The campaign coordinates initiatives spanning prevention, assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, aftercare, and community awareness. The Ministry operates under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), an evidence-based framework grounded in findings from the first National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at AIIMS, New Delhi.
Scale of Outreach So Far
Since its launch, the NMBA has reached more than 34.56 crore citizens, including over 13.71 crore youth and 10.65 crore women, through nationwide awareness activities. More than 1.64 lakh Nasha Mukti Mitras (NMM) have enrolled as community volunteers to strengthen grassroots participation.
Under NAPDDR, the Ministry provides financial assistance to state governments, Union Territories, NGOs, and government hospitals for preventive education, counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation services.
What Happens Next
The National Mass Pledge is set to take place before the end of September 2025, coinciding with the NMBA's sixth anniversary. With the government targeting over 10 crore participants — a significant jump in ambition — the success of the pledge will hinge on the coordinated mobilisation of Line Ministries, educational institutions, and civil society networks across the country.
Point of View
But the NMBA's impact is harder to measure than its outreach numbers suggest. Pledge drives and awareness campaigns are visible inputs; what remains thin is public data on treatment completion rates, rehabilitation outcomes, and drug demand trends post-intervention. The NDDTC survey that underpins NAPDDR was a landmark first — but a second survey would tell us whether the needle has actually moved. Without outcome metrics alongside participation figures, the campaign risks being measured by its reach rather than its results.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Mass Pledge Against Drug Abuse?
It is a nationwide pledge drive organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to mobilise over 10 crore citizens — through both physical and online participation — in a collective commitment against drug abuse. The pledge is being held this month to mark the sixth anniversary of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
What is the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA)?
The NMBA is a government campaign launched on 15 August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to reduce drug demand in India. It coordinates prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and community awareness initiatives under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).
How many people has the NMBA reached so far?
As of the latest figures, the NMBA has reached more than 34.56 crore citizens, including over 13.71 crore youth and 10.65 crore women, through nationwide awareness activities since its launch in 2020.
Who attended the coordination meetings on 3 September?
The meetings were chaired by Joint Secretary (Drug Prevention) Sandeep Rewaji Rathod and attended by Director Astik Kumar Pandey, Under Secretary Arun Kumar Karn, and senior representatives from multiple ministries and departments.
What is the role of Nasha Mukti Mitras in the campaign?
Nasha Mukti Mitras (NMM) are community volunteers who have enrolled to strengthen grassroots participation in the NMBA. More than 1.64 lakh such volunteers have joined the campaign to support awareness and outreach activities at the local level.
