The Government of India has launched the National Narcotics Helpline MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra) on July 18, 2024, under the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with Digital India Corporation. This digital platform addresses substance abuse and drug trafficking as major social and public health concerns, providing citizens with accessible and confidential reporting channels and support services.
The platform is accessible through multiple channels including the national helpline number 1933, official web portal, email, and the UMANG mobile application. MANAS enables citizens to confidentially report drug trafficking, peddling, illegal cultivation, and related activities without revealing their identity. The system also provides access to counseling and support for people affected by addiction, with calls transferred to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment helpline 14446.
According to India's first comprehensive report on Magnitude of Substance Abuse (2019), the scale of drug abuse includes approximately 16 crore people consuming alcohol, with over 5.7 crore severely affected. Additionally, 3.1 crore people use cannabis, 2.26 crore use opioids, and about 1.18 crore use sedatives. Roughly 2.8 crore people depend on opioids alone, including about 28 lakh needing urgent treatment.
MANAS features digital ticket generation and workflow management for faster information sharing with concerned agencies, improving coordination and response times. The platform is developing inclusive features such as multilingual call support, Smart IVRS, chatbot integration, and regional language assistance to widen access. The system directly links the public with 30 NCB Zonal Units and 36 State and Union Territory Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs).
The platform also conducts awareness drives on the MyGov portal, including quizzes, poster contests, and reel-making contests to engage teenagers and youth across the country. The digital capture of information allows for data analysis to identify patterns and trends, helping agencies detect rising problems and plan appropriate responses. MANAS represents a Digital Public Infrastructure initiative that combines technology, citizen participation, counseling, analytics, and secure reporting to support the vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat (Drug-Free India).