Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan on Aug. 2, 2024 [1].

The initiative links public health and national development, framing the eradication of substance abuse as a prerequisite for India to achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation.

Speaking from New Delhi [1], Modi addressed a nationwide audience of students, volunteers, and National Service Scheme members. He said that a drug-free, physically and mentally fit youth is essential to achieve the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ — a developed India [1].

The campaign seeks to mobilize the younger generation to reject narcotics and embrace a healthier lifestyle to ensure the country's future stability. Modi said, "A drug‑free youth is essential for building a developed India" [1].

By targeting educational institutions and youth organizations, the government intends to create a social movement against addiction. This strategy emphasizes the role of student volunteers in identifying and supporting peers who may be struggling with substance use.

Modi said, "We must eradicate drug abuse from our society and empower the future generations of India" [2]. The program is designed to operate as a nationwide movement, integrating health awareness with the broader vision of national progress [1].

The launch event in New Delhi [1] served as the starting point for a series of planned activities aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drugs and providing paths to recovery for affected youth.

“A drug‑free youth is essential for building a developed India.”

The launch of the Nasha Mukt Yuva campaign signals a strategic shift by the Indian government to treat drug addiction not merely as a medical or criminal issue, but as a systemic barrier to economic and national development. By tying the 'drug-free' objective to the 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) vision, the administration is attempting to leverage nationalistic pride and civic duty to motivate youth behavioral changes.