Government to transfer NDPS from Ministry of Finance to Ministry of Home Affairs

To bring all matters relating to narcotics under one department, the government is reportedly considering moving the administration of the NDPS Act, 1985.

To bring all matters relating to narcotics under one department, the government is reportedly considering moving the administration of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 from the finance ministry to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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KEY POINTS:

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 and the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1988 are currently administered by the Department of Revenue (DoR) in the finance ministry, while the Narcotics Control Bureau is under the control of the home ministry.
The transfer of DoR‘s administration of the two Acts to MHA is currently being discussed.
Under the terms of the NDPS Act, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is a major law enforcement and intelligence organisation entrusted with preventing the use and trafficking of illegal drugs.

About the NDPS:

A person is not allowed to produce, manufacture, cultivate, hold, sell, buy, transport, store, consume, or possess any narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, according to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985, or NDPS Act.
To stop the unlawful trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act of 1988 allows for imprisonment in specific circumstances.
The transfer was taken into account in accordance with the 1961 Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules.

About the Transfer:

The Rules provide that, with the exception of those entrusted to MHA, DoR is responsible for “all matters relating to international treaties, agreements, protocols, etc. in respect of narcotic narcotics, psychotropic substances, and precursor chemicals.” Although it has a drug department, MHA is home to the Narcotics Control Bureau.
The MHA is responsible for “all matters relating to Narcotics Control Bureau established pursuant to Section 4(3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and coordination of all measures for preventing and combating abuse of and illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.”

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