Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan' (Drug-Free Youth for Developed India Pledge Campaign) on August 2, 2026, addressing a nationwide video conference with over one crore young citizens connected from more than 28,000 locations. The campaign represents a 100-week national commitment focused on preventing substance abuse among India's youth, which the Prime Minister identified as essential for achieving the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) goal by 2047.
The initiative originated as a pilot project from Kashi the previous year and has now expanded to national scale with support from over 125 spiritual organizations and numerous NGOs under the Kashi Declaration. The program features weekly activities every Sunday for 100 weeks, incorporating art, culture, sports, and meditation to engage participants and reinforce the anti-drug message. Millions of youth have already taken anti-drug oaths committing to personal sobriety and spreading the message in their schools, colleges, and communities.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the government's strong enforcement actions, citing unprecedented nationwide crackdowns that resulted in massive drug seizures worth thousands of crores and significantly increased arrest rates targeting drug dealers and smugglers. He highlighted available support systems including societal cooperation, yoga, meditation, and modern rehabilitation centers to help those struggling with addiction.
The campaign specifically targets academic institutions, with the Prime Minister appealing to college and university professors to integrate discussions about drug dangers into their curriculum and launch anti-addiction movements on their campuses. Modi stressed the importance of open family communication to prevent youth from falling into addiction and urged families to seek medical help rather than hide addiction issues due to social stigma.