THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 2, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the nation to
protect every young person from the trap of drug addiction, saying a physically
and mentally fit, self-confident and addiction-free youth population is
indispensable for achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047, as he
launched the nationwide 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan'.
Addressing a nationwide video conference attended by over one
crore young people from more than 28,000 locations, Modi called upon every
citizen, particularly the youth, to actively participate in the movement
against substance abuse.
"We must protect every youth from falling into the trap
of addiction. Today, as the nation has set the goal of a Viksit Bharat, it is
imperative that the country's youth remain physically and mentally fit,
brimming with self-confidence, and permanently steer clear of destructive
habits like drugs," the Prime Minister said.
Describing the campaign as a national resolve rather than
merely a government initiative, Modi said the movement was aimed not only at
safeguarding individual health but also strengthening families, society and the
nation.
"Today, all of us countrymen have united for a great and
important resolution," he said, emphasizing that the success of the Viksit
Bharat mission depends on a healthy, disciplined and confident younger
generation.
The Prime Minister recalled that the initiative began as a
pilot project in Kashi last year and has now evolved into a nationwide campaign
backed by more than 125 spiritual organisations and several non-governmental
organisations under the Kashi Declaration.
He said the movement combined scientific awareness, spiritual
guidance and India's cultural values to fight drug abuse and expressed
satisfaction that the welfare-oriented initiative had now become a national
project.
Congratulating millions of young people who took the
anti-drug pledge, Modi said they had committed themselves not only to remaining
free from addiction but also to spreading awareness in schools, colleges and
communities.
Outlining the campaign's roadmap, the Prime Minister
announced that the initiative would continue for 100 weeks, with every Sunday
dedicated to activities such as sports, art, culture and meditation to engage
young people constructively.
"The coming 100 Sundays will become 100 strong steps in
the direction of a completely drug-free India," he said.
Addressing students, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers
and My Bharat volunteers, Modi described the country's youth as India's
"Amrit generation" and said their innovation, energy and talent would
determine the country's progress towards the goal of becoming a developed
nation by 2047.
He said while Indian youth were excelling globally in sectors
such as startups, artificial intelligence, sports and space exploration, drug
addiction had the potential to destroy dreams, derail careers and weaken the
country's future.
Warning against the devastating consequences of substance
abuse, the Prime Minister said addiction not only ruins an individual's life
but also shatters the aspirations of parents, causes immense suffering to
families and weakens society as a whole.
"When this devastation happens in a family or society,
the overall strength of the entire nation also fundamentally weakens," he
said.
Modi cautioned young people against the deceptive attraction
of narcotics, saying temporary intoxication ultimately leads to permanent
setbacks in careers and family life.
Drawing from India's spiritual traditions, including
teachings from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, he said Indian civilisation has
consistently rejected intoxicating substances and stressed that society should
never accord any social acceptance to drug abuse.
"We must absolutely not give any kind of social
acceptance to intoxication under any circumstances," he asserted.
The Prime Minister said individuals battling addiction should
receive support rather than social isolation. He highlighted the role of yoga,
meditation, rehabilitation centres and collective social efforts in helping
people recover.
He urged families not to hesitate in seeking medical
treatment due to concerns about social prestige and encouraged parents to
maintain open communication with their children to prevent them from falling
prey to drugs.
"If a youth has mistakenly fallen into addiction, it
absolutely does not mean that all their paths are permanently closed," he
said.
Making a special appeal to teachers and professors, Modi
urged educational institutions to incorporate discussions on the harmful
effects of drugs into regular academic activities and launch dedicated
anti-drug campaigns on campuses.
He also called upon society to welcome and respect
individuals who had successfully overcome addiction.
"The youth who come out fighting addiction are not weak;
they are real warriors whose incredible courage is their true identity,"
he said.
Reiterating the government's commitment to combating
narcotics, the Prime Minister said authorities had intensified crackdowns on
drug traffickers and smugglers across the country, resulting in record seizures
worth thousands of crores of rupees and a sharp rise in arrests.
Expressing confidence in the success of the campaign, Modi urged citizens to make the anti-drug movement a people's movement.
"I urge every citizen, especially our youth, to join this movement. I am confident that our youth will protect their energy by staying free from addiction and will take the resolutions of Viksit Bharat forward," he said.
