·         It is  an initiative by the Government of India to combat drug trafficking and abuse in the country.

·         Established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), NCORD serves as a high-level central coordination body that aims to streamline and strengthen efforts against narcotics.

·         Establishment: NCORD was set up to enhance the coordination among various central and state agencies involved in drug law enforcement and to ensure a unified and effective approach to combating drug trafficking and abuse.

Objectives:

·         Facilitating better coordination and cooperation among different drug enforcement agencies.

·         Implementing a comprehensive and integrated approach to tackle drug trafficking.

·         Strengthening the intelligence-sharing mechanisms among various agencies.

·         Formulating policies and strategies to curb drug abuse and trafficking.

·         Ensuring effective implementation of drug laws and regulations.

Structure and Functioning:

Central Level: At the central level, it involves various ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Home Affairs, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), and other relevant departments.

State Level: Each state has its own coordination mechanism involving state police, excise departments, and other local enforcement agencies. NCORD ensures that these state-level efforts are aligned with the national strategy.

Zonal Level: Regional or zonal coordination mechanisms are also established to address inter-state drug trafficking issues.

Key Functions:

·         Organizing regular meetings and discussions among stakeholders to review the current drug scenario and strategize accordingly.

·         Promoting capacity building and training for law enforcement agencies to improve their effectiveness in dealing with narcotics-related issues.

·         Enhancing public awareness about the dangers of drug abuse through various campaigns and initiatives.

·         Facilitating the exchange of information and intelligence among agencies to preempt and combat drug trafficking networks.

Policy Formulation and Implementation: NCORD plays a crucial role in the formulation of national policies related to drug control and ensures their effective implementation. It also monitors and evaluates the performance of various drug control measures.

Inter-Agency Collaboration:

·         One of the key strengths of NCORD is its ability to foster collaboration among various national and international agencies.

·         This includes coordination with agencies like INTERPOL, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and other international bodies involved in combating narcotics.