The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has extended its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Art of Living under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) to deepen community outreach against substance abuse. Under the renewed partnership, the Art of Living will use its extensive grassroots network to promote value-based living, strengthen family resilience and reduce the stigma linked to substance use disorders. The extension is part of a larger framework in which the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has partnered with 12 spiritual organisations to make the drug-free India campaign a people’s movement.
What Is Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan?
What is Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan? Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) is the flagship national campaign of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to reduce demand for drugs through prevention, awareness, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation, with a focus on youth, women, students and the community, aiming for a drug-free India.
Launched on 15 August 2020, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) was initially rolled out in 272 districts identified as most vulnerable to substance use on the basis of the first National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India (2018), conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. That survey estimated around 7.1 crore people engaged in substance use and highlighted the need for a nationwide demand reduction push. On 15 August 2023, the Abhiyaan was expanded to all districts of the country, transforming it into a campaign mode programme.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment implements NMBA through District Level Nasha Mukt Committees headed by District Collectors or Magistrates and State Level Committees, with monitoring support from the Project Monitoring Unit and State Coordinators. The Ministry provides ₹10 lakh per district under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) on submission of an annual action plan by the district administration.
NMBA works on a three-pronged strategy. Supply control is handled by the Narcotics Control Bureau, demand reduction and awareness by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and treatment and rehabilitation support by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This whole of government and whole of society approach links schools, higher education institutions, youth clubs, women’s groups and community organisations.
Outreach has grown rapidly. By mid 2026, NMBA had sensitised more than 29 crore people, including over 11 crore youth and 7 to 8 crore women, across more than 5 lakh educational institutions. Earlier milestones reported 20.63 crore people reached by late 2025 and 23 crore people with 7.81 crore youth and 5.24 crore women in other official updates, showing steady year on year expansion. A dedicated NMBA Mobile App geo tags activities, an online NMBA Dashboard tracks district, state and national progress, and the national Drug De-addiction Helpline 14446 offers primary counselling and referral.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment: The Nodal Framework
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) is the nodal ministry for drug demand reduction in India. Its Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) formulates policy, coordinates prevention, assigns funds and monitors implementation across states and union territories. The Ministry is headquartered at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, and is headed by Dr Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment (as of September 2026), assisted by Ministers of State Shri Ramdas Athawale and Shri B. L. Verma.
The constitutional backing comes from Article 47 of the Constitution, which directs the State to work towards prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs injurious to health. To operationalise this mandate, the Ministry launched the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) in 2018 as an umbrella scheme for the period 2018 to 2025. The earlier Central Sector Scheme for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse, in operation since 1985-86, was merged into NAPDDR, so that all drug demand reduction activities run under one scheme.
NAPDDR provides financial assistance on three tracks. It supports State and Union Territory governments for preventive education, awareness generation, capacity building, skill development and livelihood support for former drug users, it funds non governmental organisations and voluntary organisations to run rehabilitation centres, and it helps government hospitals to run addiction treatment facilities through AIIMS, New Delhi.
The service infrastructure created under NAPDDR includes several types of centres, each with a distinct role:
| Centre Type | Full Form | Role | Supported Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRCA | Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts | Counselling, detoxification, de-addiction, aftercare and reintegration | 342 |
| CPLI | Community based Peer Led Intervention | Prevention among vulnerable children and adolescents through peer educators | 47 to 48 |
| ODIC | Outreach and Drop In Centre | Safe space for screening, assessment, counselling and referral | 74 |
| ATF | Addiction Treatment Facility | Clinical treatment in government hospitals, implemented via AIIMS | 66 |
| DDAC | District De-Addiction Centre | Services in districts without IRCA, ODIC or CPLI | 45 |
The National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), an autonomous body under MoSJE based in New Delhi, acts as the training and research arm. Its National Centre for Drug Abuse Prevention (NCDAP) is the apex body for training, documentation and capacity building. NISD trains Master Volunteers, with a norm of at least 50 Master Volunteers per district, in collaboration with SCERTs and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. A revised Standard Operating Procedure and fund flow through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) using the EAT or REAT module have been introduced to simplify grants, cut paperwork and improve transparency.
Partnership with Art of Living: MoU Extension and Ground-Level Role
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has renewed its partnership with the Art of Living by extending the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan framework. The extension allows the organisation to continue and scale up prevention and awareness work using its community presence. The core mandate of the renewed MoU is to use the grassroots network to promote value-based living and family resilience and to reduce the stigma associated with substance use disorders, so that more people seek help early.
The original set of MoUs with spiritual and social service organisations was signed between 2023 and 2024 to make NMBA more effective and widespread. The Art of Living was among the first six partners in that phase. The extension signals continuity, with the Art of Living retaining its role as an implementation support partner that conducts mass awareness activities under the banner of NMBA, both on the ground and on social media.
What Is Art of Living?
What is Art of Living? The Art of Living is a volunteer based, humanitarian and educational non governmental organisation founded in 1981 by spiritual and humanitarian leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, working in 180 countries to promote stress-free and violence-free living through yoga, meditation and breathing techniques.
The Art of Living Foundation is headquartered at the Art of Living International Centre, 21st KM, Kanakapura Road, Udayapura, Bengaluru South, Karnataka 560082. The United States office is in Washington, D.C. The organisation has held special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1996. It was formally established as an educational and humanitarian body in the United States in 1989.
Its best known programmes include the Art of Living Happiness Program, also called the AOL Happiness Program, the Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique, the Intuition Process, and courses for kids, teens, youth, students and senior citizens. The network includes the Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru, the Sri Sri Tattva and Panchakarma centres, and numerous Art of Living Yoga and Meditation Centres across India. The Art of Living Bangalore Ashram draws volunteers and teachers who then run courses and outreach in districts, which is why the Ministry values its reach for last mile messaging.
How the Grassroots Network Will Promote Value-Based Living and Reduce Stigma
Value-based living in the NMBA context means daily practices that strengthen self discipline, empathy, coping skills and respect within families and peer groups. Family resilience refers to the ability of families to handle stress, peer pressure and emotional distress without turning to substances, and to support a member who is trying to quit.
The Art of Living will use several channels. Volunteer teachers and Nasha Mukti Mitr style community volunteers will organise awareness rallies, meditation sessions, yoga camps, cultural programmes, nukkad nataks, sports events and discussion forums in schools, colleges and neighbourhoods. Such wellness practices are promoted as healthy alternatives to substance use and help with stress management.
Stigma reduction is a second pillar. Substance use disorder is treated by the Ministry as a psycho social medical problem, not a moral failure. By framing recovery through spiritual encouragement, self awareness and community support, the Art of Living helps normalise help seeking. The approach encourages families to use the Helpline 14446, to register as volunteers, and to link affected persons to Nasha Mukti Kendra facilities, IRCAs and ATFs for counselling and treatment, instead of hiding the problem.
The organisation will also amplify NMBA messages on its digital platforms, including artofliving.org and the Art of Living App, and through local centre networks that people often search as Art of Living near me or Art of Living centre near me. This blended field and digital presence helps carry the drug-free India message to youth clubs, women’s groups and educational institutions where early prevention is most effective.
Twelve Spiritual Organisations Under the NMBA Framework
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has partnered with 12 spiritual organisations under the NMBA framework to expand outreach. The partnership model rests on a simple idea. Spiritual and community organisations enjoy deep trust, large volunteer bases and year round access to families, so they can carry prevention messages into homes, schools and workplaces more effectively than a standalone government campaign.
The first wave of MoUs was signed in 2023 and 2024. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 7 February 2024, the Ministry listed six partners at that stage. Subsequent signings have taken the total to 12, with new partners added in December 2025 and September 2026.
| Partner Organisation | Headquarters or Base | Focus in NMBA |
|---|---|---|
| Prajapita Brahma Kumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya (Brahma Kumaris) | Mount Abu, Rajasthan | MoU signed on 4 March 2023 at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, for youth, women and student awareness |
| Art of Living | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Grassroots promotion of value-based living and stigma reduction |
| Sant Nirankari Mission | New Delhi | Community sensitisation and mass awareness camps |
| All World Gayatri Pariwar | Shantikunj, Haridwar, Uttarakhand | Preventive education through its nationwide centres |
| International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) | Mayapur, West Bengal, with centres across India | Youth engagement via cultural and wellness programmes |
| Shri Ram Chandra Mission (Heartfulness) | Hyderabad, Telangana | Meditation based resilience and counselling support |
| Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram Trust | Kerala | MoU signed on 24 December 2025 for yoga and wellness outreach |
| University of Patanjali | Haridwar, Uttarakhand | MoU signed on 24 December 2025 for preventive education and research linkages |
| Bodh, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) | New Delhi | MoU signed on 20 September 2026 in presence of Secretary Shri Sudhansh Pant, focusing on youth, families and institutional engagement |
| Three additional spiritual partners | Pan-India networks | Added under NMBA’s 12 partner framework to extend coverage to remaining regions and communities |
The common objectives across all MoUs are to create community awareness through field activities and social media, to promote early identification and referral to counselling and treatment, to strengthen life skills among adolescents, and to integrate spiritual awakening with public health messaging. The Department notes that the Brahma Kumaris collaboration, for example, was highlighted for its emphasis on self introspection and self awareness as tools to stay away from intoxicants, while the Art of Living and Heartfulness streams add breathing and meditation practices that build emotional regulation.
Wider Architecture: Treatment, Outreach and Emerging Campaigns
The MoU extension does not work in isolation. The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan sits inside a larger system of treatment facilities, helplines, pledges and school and youth campaigns that together push towards a Drug Free India goal.
Nasha Mukti Kendra Network and Support Services
What is Nasha Mukti Kendra? A Nasha Mukti Kendra is a de-addiction and rehabilitation centre that provides preventive education, motivational counselling, detoxification, treatment, aftercare and reintegration services to help people recover from substance use disorders and return to community life.
Under NAPDDR, the Ministry funds IRCAs, ODICs, CPLIs, DDACs and ATFs in government hospitals. Many are searched online as Nasha Mukti Kendra near me, Nasha Mukti Kendra government or Nasha Mukti Kendra free of cost, since several centres offer free or subsidised care. All Ministry supported institutions for counselling, treatment and rehabilitation have been geo tagged for easy access on the NMBA dashboard. For immediate help, the Ministry maintains the toll free Drug De-addiction Helpline 14446, which provides primary counselling and referral to the nearest centre. Citizens also search for the Nasha Mukti Kendra helpline number to connect quickly.
NMBA Pledge, Certificate and Volunteer Ecosystem
A core community tool is the NMBA Pledge. The pledge text invites youth, women and community members to commit that they will keep themselves, their families, communities and friends free from substance abuse and will make every possible effort to keep their district, state and country drug free.
The pledge can be taken online at nmba.dosje.gov.in, where users also receive a Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Certificate, often searched as NMBA pledge certificate, Nasha Mukt Bharat pledge certificate or Nasha Mukti certificate. The certificate can be downloaded and sent by email, and the system allows verification. The pledge aims to encourage responsible behaviour, promote unity and commitment, and empower youth to act as advocates. More than 3 crore people in over 2 lakh institutions participated in the mass pledge on 12 August 2024, and a National Pledge against drug abuse was again organised on 18 August 2026 to mark the sixth anniversary of NMBA.
Volunteers register as Nasha Mukti Mitr through the NMBA portal. They help organise poster and drawing competitions, often searched as Nasha Mukti poster and Nasha Mukti drawing, wall paintings, rallies and community meetings in collaboration with Nehru Yuva Kendra, National Service Scheme, National Cadet Corps, MyBharat and youth clubs.
Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat and Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya
Two recent thrusts have driven search momentum. The Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 August 2026 through video conferencing, is a 100 week nationwide Jan Bhagidari campaign against substance abuse. Activities include sports events, walkathons, meditation sessions, cultural programmes, nukkad nataks, art competitions and community discussions, with the aim of linking youth energy to the vision of a developed India.
The Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya initiative focuses on schools. It includes the Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya portal, registration and login modules for schools, and Navchetna modules and teacher training materials developed for students of Classes 6 to 11, teachers and parents. These modules teach life skills, coping strategies and awareness about drugs, and allow schools to upload activities to the NMBA mobile app. The Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah 2026 observed from 17 to 26 June 2026 under the theme Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Viksit Bharat Ki Pehchaan, aligning with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime theme Break the Cycle, Stop Organised Crime, also promoted schools and colleges as first lines of prevention.
Significance and the Way Forward
The extension of the Art of Living MoU matters because awareness alone does not change behaviour unless it is delivered by trusted local voices and linked to care. Many people who need help avoid treatment due to fear of judgement. By using meditation, yoga and community service as entry points, spiritual partners lower that barrier, encourage families to talk openly, and connect those affected to professional counselling at IRCAs or ATFs via Helpline 14446. This reduces stigma and builds family resilience, which protects adolescents from peer pressure and stress related use.
For the government, the 12 partner model spreads the workload. Each spiritual organisation brings a ready volunteer force, centres and annual calendars of festivals and camps that can carry the NMBA message without creating a new field cadre from scratch. That helps sustain the campaign in all districts, including those where field staff are limited.
Looking ahead, the Department has outlined several steps. A Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan App 2.0 is planned for wider launch, with better geo tagging and real time reporting of activities. State and District Level NMBA Committees are being asked to hold regular meetings, ensure at least 50 Master Volunteers per district are trained through NISD, and upload activities to the NMBA portal. The 100 week Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat drive that began on 2 August 2026 will run through 2028, keeping youth engagement continuous rather than event based. Further, school outreach through Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya and preventive modules for Classes 6 to 11 will be scaled, so that education, counselling and treatment remain linked from classroom to community.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has extended its MoU with Art of Living under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) to use its grassroots network for value-based living, family resilience and stigma reduction around substance use disorders.
- NMBA was launched on 15 August 2020 in 272 vulnerable districts and expanded to all districts on 15 August 2023, implemented through District Level Committees headed by District Collectors and monitored by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- The Ministry has partnered with 12 spiritual organisations under NMBA, with the initial six including Brahma Kumaris, Art of Living, Sant Nirankari Mission, All World Gayatri Pariwar, ISKCON and Shri Ram Chandra Mission.
- The Art of Living Foundation was founded in 1981 by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is headquartered at the Art of Living International Centre, Kanakapura Road, Bengaluru, operates in 180 countries and holds UN ECOSOC special consultative status since 1996.
- The National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), launched in 2018, is the umbrella scheme for drug demand reduction and funds 342 IRCAs, 47 to 48 CPLIs, 74 ODICs, 66 ATFs and 45 DDACs, with the toll free Drug De-addiction Helpline 14446.
- By mid 2026, NMBA had sensitised more than 29 crore people including over 11 crore youth, and the new 100 week Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan was launched on 2 August 2026 to sustain youth led awareness.
