Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan on Sunday to curb substance abuse among youth.
The initiative links public health with national development, positioning a drug-free generation as the primary engine for India's growth and modernization goals.
The campaign will run for 100 weeks [1]. Launched via video conference, the program engaged colleges across the country to mobilize students as ambassadors for positive social change.
Modi said substance abuse is pushing young people away from their dreams. He said youth power is key to India's development mission, which seeks to create a "Viksit Bharat" or developed India.
To support the broader goal, a related Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme featuring anti-drug awareness drives began in colleges on July 16 [2]. This effort focuses on keeping young people away from drug-related distractions so they can contribute to the nation's progress.
Beyond awareness and education, the Prime Minister addressed the supply side of the crisis. Modi said the government has intensified the crackdown on drug traffickers [1].
The campaign seeks to transform the role of students from passive recipients of information into active agents of change. By targeting the youth demographic, the government aims to create a social barrier against the proliferation of narcotics in educational institutions.
“"Substance abuse is pushing young people away from their dreams."”
By framing drug addiction as an obstacle to the 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) mission, the government is shifting the anti-drug narrative from a purely medical or criminal issue to one of national security and economic productivity. The 100-week duration suggests a long-term institutional commitment rather than a short-term awareness drive, attempting to integrate sobriety into the broader identity of Indian civic duty.
