UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 18th September

UPSC DAW Mains Answer Writing 2025 18th September

Question

Recently massive seizures of illicit drugs by the enforcement agencies revealed that drug addiction is spiking across India especially among the youths.  In the light of this statement discuss the factors responsible for drug abuse in the country and government measures to curb the drug menace.? 

Model Answer

Introduction: 

India was part of Operation Lionfish-Mayag III, an international crackdown by Interpol that seized 76 tonnes of narcotics globally. Law enforcement agencies reported a continued increase in the seizure of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine, and misused pharmaceuticals in 2024 and into 2025, particularly among youth across the country. 

Factors responsible for rising drug abuse across the country: 

  1. Geographical and supply-side factors:  (a) India is situated between two major illicit opium production zones: the Golden Crescent (Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand).  (b) The long, porous borders, particularly with Pakistan and Myanmar, facilitate cross-border smuggling. 

  2. Socio-economic factors:  Social issues such as poverty, unemployment, changing economic conditions, affordability, modern lifestyles, urbanisation, and migration increase drug usage, especially among youth. 

Example: According to studies in states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, poor drug addicts often start selling drugs to meet the expenses of their daily dose. 

  1. Cultural factors:  Peer pressure, media influence, and family environment increase the desire to fit in or gain social acceptance, often driving adolescents and young adults to experiment with drugs. 

Example: Pop culture—including music, movies, and social media—often glamorises or normalises drug use. 

  1. Lack of strict regulations:  Poor implementation of laws like the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, corruption, and a lack of coordination among enforcement agencies weaken the fight against drug trafficking. 

  2. Easy availability:  The easy availability of certain legal substances, such as inhalants and some pharmaceutical drugs sold without a prescription, contributes to substance abuse. 

 Government measures to curb the drug abuse menace in India: 

  1. Constitutional measures:  Article 47 of the Indian Constitution lays down that the State is duty-bound to prevent the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs, except when consumed for medicinal purposes not injurious to health. 

  2. Legislative measures: 

  3. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 

  4. Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988 

  5. Prevention of drug trade and selling: 

  6. National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders (NIDAAN) portal assists investigation agencies. 

  7. Border control measures, financial investigations to target traffickers, and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) analyse drug trafficking via maritime routes. 

  8. Institutional measures: 

  9. Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) under the Department of Revenue supervises legal cultivation of opium poppy. 

  10. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs is the apex coordinating agency for drug law enforcement. 

  11. National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) was launched to reduce drug demand in the country. 

  12. Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs), and the toll-free de-addiction helpline 14446 are maintained under NAPDDR. 

  13. International cooperation: 

  14. India is a signatory to UN Conventions on drug control, including the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961). 

  15. India collaborates internationally through judicial cooperation and Interpol operations. 

Conclusion: The drug abuse issue needs an iron hand to curb both proliferation and usage among youth. To secure the country’s future from the iron claws of addiction, the government must focus on a comprehensive policy framework, along with community-driven approaches. Awareness campaigns and social interventions can make the vision of Nasha Mukt Bharat by 2047 a reality.