Context
- The Union Government has announced that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 will be amended to address emerging challenges in drug trafficking. The proposed amendments aim to strengthen legal provisions, improve inter-agency coordination, and adopt a technology-driven approach to dismantle drug trafficking networks rather than targeting only individual offenders.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985
- The NDPS Act, 1985 is the principal legislation governing the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India.
- NDPS Act, 1985 is administered by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue).
- It prohibits the production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, storage, consumption, import, and export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, except for medical and scientific purposes.
- The Act also provides stringent punishments for drug-related offences and empowers enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute offenders.
Objectives of the Act
- Prevent illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs.
- Regulate the legitimate use of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
- Fulfil India’s obligations under international drug control conventions.
- Combat organized drug-related crimes.
What are the Proposed Amendments?
According to the Government, the amendments will focus on:
- Closing legal loopholes exploited by drug trafficking syndicates.
- Shifting investigations from targeting individual offenders to dismantling entire drug networks.
- Greater use of technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics in investigations.
- Strengthening coordination among Central and State enforcement agencies.
- Enhancing international cooperation against cross-border drug trafficking.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
- The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is India’s apex drug law enforcement agency.
- Key Facts
- Established: 1986
- Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Legal Basis: Constituted under the NDPS Act, 1985
- Functions
- Enforces the provisions of the NDPS Act.
- Coordinates anti-narcotics operations among Central and State agencies.
- Collects and shares intelligence on drug trafficking.
- Investigates major narcotics cases, especially those involving interstate and international syndicates.
- Coordinates with international organizations to combat transnational drug crimes.
International Conventions Related to Drug Control
India is a signatory to the three major United Nations conventions on narcotic drugs:
- Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971
- United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.
- To target drug traffickers and gangsters operating from abroad, Indian agencies will utilize Red Corner Notices through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which acts as the National Central Bureau for Interpol in India.
Drug Trafficking in India
- India is geographically located between the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle, making it particularly vulnerable to illicit drug trafficking.
- Golden Crescent; The Golden Crescent comprises:
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Pakistan
- Golden Triangle; The Golden Triangle comprises:
- Myanmar
- Laos
- Thailand
It is another major global centre for the production of opium and synthetic drugs.
Consider the following statements regarding the institutional mechanism for drug control in India:
1. The administrative responsibility for amending the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act lies with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. The Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) functions under the aegis of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
3. The Vision Document (2026-2029) advocates for an AI-enabled profiling mechanism to track cross-border land and maritime drug routes.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
• Statement 1 is incorrect: As highlighted in image_6029c3.png, the Department of Revenue (Ministry of Finance) is the nodal authority tasked with amending the NDPS Act and rules, not the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Statement 2 is correct: The 10th apex-level meeting of NCORD was organized directly by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
• Statement 3 is correct: The newly released vision document explicitly mentions utilizing AI-enabled profiling to strengthen interdiction capabilities across land, sea, and air trafficking routes.