Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan’ on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 11 am through video conferencing, beginning a nationwide campaign against substance abuse among young people.
The launch reached nearly 10,000 locations across the country, with more than 1 crore youth taking a national pledge to stay away from substance abuse and serve as ambassadors of positive social change.
The event saw participation from MY Bharat Volunteers, the National Service Scheme, youth clubs, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, industrial associations and more than 125 spiritual organisations.
The launch marks the start of a 100-week Jan Bhagidari campaign against substance abuse, with weekly activities scheduled every Sunday across the country.
Planned activities include sports events, walkathons, meditation sessions, cultural programmes, awareness campaigns, nukkad nataks, discussion forums and art competitions.
The campaign builds on the government’s existing Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, extending its reach through a structured, multi-year calendar of youth-focused activities.
Government officials have described substance abuse among youth as a public health and social challenge that requires sustained, community-led engagement rather than a single awareness event.
The ‘Viksit Bharat’ framing links the anti-drug campaign to the government’s broader goal of a developed India by 2047, positioning youth wellbeing as a foundation for the country’s long-term development agenda.
Educational institutions, from schools to universities, are expected to play a central role in sustaining the weekly Sunday activities, given their direct access to the young people the campaign is targeting.
The campaign builds on the government’s broader Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, which has run de-addiction and awareness drives across India’s states and union territories in recent years.
Officials said the choice of Sunday for weekly activities is intended to maximise participation from students and working professionals who have more free time to join community events on the day.
Photo: Prime Minister’s Office, Wikimedia Commons, GODL-India
