Relevance for Banking, SSC & RBI Grade B exams: Polity & Governance

On August 18, 2026, a “National Collective Resolve/Pledge against Drug Abuse” program will be organized to mark the sixth anniversary of the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ (NMBA). The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal ministry for this initiative, aiming to mobilize over 10 to 12 crore citizens through physical and online participation. A second high-level coordination meeting, chaired by Dr. Sandeep Revaji Rathod, Joint Secretary (Drug Prevention) of the Ministry, was held in the national capital to discuss the plan and comprehensive strategy for ensuring the targeted participation in the nationwide pledge program, aligning with NMBA’s objectives. The meeting reviewed ongoing implementation strategies and discussed the roles of various ministries and departments, including Railways, Defence, Police, CAPF, NCC, AYUSH, Rural Development, and Revenue, in mobilizing officials, employees, students, parents, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Discussions also included involving social, voluntary, and spiritual organizations, as well as social influencers, and establishing a uniform system for reporting participation data and outreach. The NMBA, launched on August 15, 2020, by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, addresses the demand for drugs in the country through a coordinated approach encompassing prevention, assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, aftercare support, outreach, and community awareness. The Ministry implements a comprehensive and evidence-based strategy under the ‘National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction’ (NAPDDR), based on findings from the first national survey on the extent and pattern of substance use in India conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at AIIMS, New Delhi. Under NAPDDR, financial assistance is provided to state governments, union territories, NGOs, and government hospitals for preventive education, awareness generation, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation. The campaign has reached over 29.68 crore citizens, including more than 11.43 crore youth and 8.05 crore women, through nationwide awareness activities, with over 1.25 lakh ‘Nasha Mukti Mitras’ (NMM) also associated to strengthen community participation. The NMBA 2.0 mobile app has been launched to improve access to treatment facilities, allowing citizens to locate their nearest de-addiction center. The government is committed to a drug-free and socially inclusive India by expanding rehabilitation infrastructure, enhancing prevention measures, simplifying implementation processes, and ensuring efficient delivery of centrally sponsored schemes through continuous community participation, improved governance, and technology-based service delivery.

For Banking, SSC, and RBI Grade B aspirants, this initiative highlights the government’s focus on social welfare and public health, which can be relevant for General Awareness sections, particularly in questions related to government schemes, social issues, and national campaigns. Understanding the nodal ministry, the scale of outreach (29.68 crore citizens), and the

Source: PIB (Press Information Bureau)

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