Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

Subject: Current affairs

Context: NCPCR, NCB releases a joint action plan to combat drug and substance abuse among children

Concept:

The common drugs used by children and adolescents were tobacco and alcohol, followed by inhalants and cannabis

The action plan includes:

Every police station should have a list of CCTV cameras installed in surrounding areas of the schools in their jurisdiction.
Random checking of CCTV installed around schools and educational institutions to check drug and substance abuse by kids
Chemists sell drugs under schedule H, H1, or X only by updating information in mobile app-based management information systems to ensure that underage kids do not get them without prescription and develop dependency
Exclusive de-addiction and rehabilitation facilities be set up for children in 272 vulnerable districts by the ministry of social justice and empowerment

About NCB

Narcotics Control Bureau was constituted by the Government of India in 1986 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
It is the apex coordinating agency falling under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The NCB was part of a global operation ‘Operation Trance’ (2019), which is a joint intelligence-gathering action on international postal, express mail and courier shipments containing psychotropic drugs.
The law was passed based on Article 47 of the Indian Constitution which directs the State to endeavor to bring about prohibition of the consumption, except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drugs injurious to health.
The Act provides for a Fund to be called the National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse to meet the expenditure incurred in connection with the measures taken for combating illicit traffic in, or controlling abuse of, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
Minimum term of rigorous imprisonment of 10 years, which may extend to 20 years for offenders, and also a fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees.
The Act made an express provision for constituting a Central Authority for the purpose of exercising the powers and functions of the Central Government under the Act.