Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced a December 31, 2029 deadline to eliminate narcotics in India during Police Commemoration Day ceremonies in New Delhi on October 21, 2026, while honouring 36,852 police personnel who have died in the line of duty since independence.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah told crowds gathered at the National Police Memorial that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has established the end of 2029 as the hard target for a completely drug-free country. Calling the trade a direct threat to coming generations and a revenue stream for anti-national organisations, the minister asked state and federal forces to throw their weight behind the ‘nasha-mukt Bharat’ roadmap.
The Home Minister stated that among all government services, police service is one of the most challenging. Peace had been established in the country’s three primary hotspots: Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast region, and areas affected by left-wing extremism. Shah pointed out that elections in West Bengal were conducted without any violence for the first time due to the vigilance of security forces. Electoral violence has ended in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Police personnel bulwark our nation's growth and ensure that our young generation gets a better India and a brighter tomorrow.Their Himalayan resolve erased Naxalism, crushed terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, and liberated the Northeast from the clutches of insurgency. Today,… pic.twitter.com/IFIAgVEpkt
Honoring 36,852 Fallen Personnel at the National Police Memorial
The annual commemoration drew top federal officials, lawmakers, and police directors to Chanakyapuri on October 21, 2026, to pay tribute at the National Police Memorial. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan joined the event. Intelligence Bureau Director Mahesh Dixit also attended. Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director General Shatrujeet Kapoor joined Shah for the wreath-laying ceremony honoring the 36,852 police personnel who have died protecting the nation since Independence.
Police personnel constitute both the first and the last line of defence for internal security.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, writing on X, acknowledged the dedication, courage and service of police personnel in maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety, often under challenging circumstances.
Police Commemoration Day is an occasion to express our deepest gratitude to our police personnel, who serve with remarkable commitment, often in the most challenging circumstances. From maintaining law and order to combating crime, responding to emergencies and ensuring the…
Remembering the Hot Springs Ambush Legacy
Police Commemoration Day is observed every October 21 to mark the deaths of 10 Central Reserve Police Force personnel killed in a 1959 clash with Chinese troops in the Hot Springs region of Ladakh. Shah noted that the personnel had sacrificed their lives while defending the country’s territory and protecting its sovereignty.
The 2026 observance carried added weight following the eradication of left-wing extremism on March 31, 2026. Tracing the human toll of the Naxal conflict, the home minister stated that the country endured violence from 1981 through March 2026, losing more than 3,600 security personnel and nearly 13,700 civilians.
Launching the Nationwide Motorcycle Rally to Gujarat
Immediately following the memorial ceremonies, Shah flagged off a nationwide motorcycle rally carrying the Fight against Drugs
message. Approximately 90 participants drawn from nine States and Union Territories, alongside members of Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organisations, make up the expedition.
As stated by the Union Home Ministry, participants coming from all corners of the nation will make their way to Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, to take part in the Ekta Parade-2026. Organizers confirmed that events at Kevadia will celebrate the end of armed Naxalism alongside 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade and Bharat Parv.
Remembering the courage and sacrifice of our brave police personnel on Police Commemoration Day. https://t.co/x84wO7UdcA
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On Police Commemoration Day, I express my deep gratitude to police personnel for their invaluable service to the nation.Their courage and dedication to safeguarding citizens, maintaining public order and upholding the law are vital to our national security.I also pay my…