Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has reached 35.88 crore people, Social Justice Ministry says

The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, the government's campaign against substance abuse, has reached more than 35.88 crore people as of 12 November 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said.

Of those reached, over 14.35 crore are young people and 11.33 crore are women. More than 2 lakh citizens have enrolled as "Nasha Mukti Mitr", or volunteers in the movement.

From 1.4 crore to 35.88 crore

The ministry launched the campaign on 15 August 2020 in 272 districts seen as particularly vulnerable. It grew to 372 districts in August 2022 and to every district from 15 August 2023. A senior ministry official said it reached about 1.4 crore people in 2021.

More than 34.07 lakh awareness activities have been held in educational institutions, the official said.

More people seeking treatment

The campaign is the awareness arm of the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, which also covers treatment and rehabilitation. The number of people seeking treatment and counselling rose from 2.08 lakh in 2020-21 to more than 9.11 lakh in 2025-26. India now has 198 District De-Addiction Centres.

The scale of the problem

The official pointed to the first National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, conducted in 2018. It found that more than 7 crore people in the country were affected by substance use disorders, including nearly 1.2 crore children and 58 lakh women.

The release does not say how many of those reached by the campaign have changed their habits; its figures measure outreach, not outcomes.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (12 NOV 2026 4:13PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Reaches Over 35.88 Crore People; Over 14.35 Crore Youth, 11.33 Crore Women Reached Through Nationwide Awareness Campaign.