India, April 7 -- justify;">Punjab's ongoing anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashean Virudh, is increasingly being defined by a rise in convictions under the NDPS Act, with officials highlighting a shift from enforcement-led action to building legally robust cases.

According to official data, the conviction rate in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has steadily increased in recent years. It rose from around 80% in 2022 to 81% in 2023, 85% in 2024 and 88% in 2025. In 2026 so far, the conviction rate stands at about 89%, based on cases decided by courts.

Officials attribute this trend to changes in investigation practices, including prosecution-led case building, improved evidence collection, and closer adhere...