The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), India’s flagship anti-drug campaign, marked its fifth anniversary with a high-profile national celebration at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar on Tuesday, November 19, 2025. Launched on August 15, 2020, by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the initiative has recorded a 427% surge in the number of people seeking de-addiction treatment over the past five years, alongside 5.72 lakh individuals who have successfully recovered and now serve as campaign volunteers.
Union Minister Virendra Kumar, addressing over 10,000 participants, including students, BSF personnel, and NGOs, revealed that more than 23.74 crore people have been sensitised under NMBA, including 8.09 crore youth and 5.49 crore women. The campaign has engaged 17 lakh educational institutions nationwide and attracted over six crore participants through both physical and virtual events. “The 427% increase in treatment-seeking behaviour and the active contribution of 5.72 lakh recovered persons demonstrate that a drug-free India is not just a slogan but a lived reality,” the minister said.
The event saw Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria launch four new digital initiatives—a mobile app and three dedicated portals—designed to streamline reporting, counselling, and community mobilisation. A special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was read out, stressing that a “Nasha Mukt Bharat” is achievable only through collective resolve and the leadership of the youth. Olympians, master volunteers, and rehabilitated individuals were felicitated for their role in spreading awareness and supporting recovery.
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The milestone celebration comes against the backdrop of persistent drug challenges, particularly in border states like Punjab, where opioid and synthetic drug abuse has long been a public health crisis. Officials highlighted that NMBA’s multi-pronged approach—combining awareness drives, community participation, and expanded treatment infrastructure—has helped shift societal attitudes from stigma to support, encouraging more addicts to seek professional help.
With the new digital tools now operational, the government aims to intensify outreach in the next phase, targeting 100% coverage of educational institutions and greater integration with law enforcement and health services. The Amritsar event concluded with a mass pledge administered by Minister Kumar, reaffirming the national commitment to building a drug-free India by 2047.
As the campaign enters its sixth year, the dramatic rise in treatment-seeking numbers and the growing army of recovered volunteers signal a turning tide in India’s long battle against substance abuse, offering hope that sustained collective action can indeed deliver a Nasha Mukt Bharat.
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