The NDPS Act, short for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, is a law passed by the Indian Parliament in 1985 to combat drug abuse and drug trafficking in India. The act came into force on 14th November 1985.
The context for the act was the increasing prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking in India, which posed a significant threat to public health and safety. The government recognized that existing laws were inadequate to deal with this problem, and a new, more comprehensive law was needed.
The NDPS Act replaced the earlier Opium Act of 1857 and the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1930. It provided for more stringent punishment for drug offenses and included provisions for the forfeiture of property derived from drug trafficking. The act also established the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as the central agency responsible for enforcing drug laws in India.
The need for the NDPS Act was felt due to the increasing use and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India, which posed a serious threat to public health and safety. The act aimed to regulate the production, manufacture, possession, transport, sale, and consumption of these substances, and to prevent their abuse and diversion for illicit purposes.
Overall, the NDPS Act is an important tool in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking in India. It has helped to create a legal framework for the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and to provide for effective enforcement of drug laws in the country.