India launches 100-week national anti-drug youth campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a nationwide anti-drug campaign on Sunday, August 2, 2026, framing the fight against substance abuse as a critical national security and public health priority. The "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan" was inaugurated via video conference, with the Prime Minister stating that more than one crore young people participated from over 28,000 locations across the country.

Modi described drug addiction as a scourge that destroys individuals, shatters families, and undermines national progress. He asserted that the supply of drugs is part of a terror-driven agenda by hostile nations aiming to weaken India by targeting its youth. The campaign, he said, is not just for individuals and families but is fundamentally for the security and future of the nation.

The initiative marks the start of a 100-week "Jan Bhagidari" public participation movement, with activities planned every Sunday nationwide. These will include sports events, walkathons, meditation sessions, cultural programs, and awareness campaigns. Modi stated that the next 100 Sundays would represent 100 strong steps toward a drug-free India.

The Prime Minister noted that the...