Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act

Subject: Acts

Context:

Sushant Singh Rajput death case has brought focus on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act

Concept:

• The NDPS Act enacted in 1985 is the primary legislation for dealing with drugs and their trafficking.
• It was passed as India had to fulfil obligations as a signatory of various international conventions on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to prevent its use and illicit trafficking.
• It has various provisions to punish manufacturing, sale, possession, consumption, use, transport of banned drugs.
• Punishment under the Act can vary based upon the sections the accused is charged.
• The central government can add or omit from the list of psychotropic substances.
• India is a signatory to The UN Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1961, The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and The Convention on Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 which prescribe various forms of control aimed to achieve the dual objective of limiting the use of narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes as well as preventing the abuse of the same.
• Narcotics Control Bureau was constituted by the Government of India in 1986 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
• The aspect of drug supply reduction is looked after by various enforcement agencies under the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Home Affairs and State Governments. The aspect of drug demand reduction is handled by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and that of treatment of drug addicts and their rehabilitation falls under the domain of the Ministry of Health.