A Historical Study of Drug Law in India: From Colonial Trade to Criminalization

Abstract

The evolution of drug laws in India reveals a layered history shaped by colonial exploitation, global regulatory pressures, and domestic legal reform. Initially framed around revenue collection during the British Empire, Indian drug regulation later absorbed international treaty obligations, culminating in the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) of 1985. This paper critically explores the socio-political and legal contexts that shaped drug policy in India, examining the shift from trade-focused laws to criminal justice models. It argues that contemporary Indian drug law continues to reflect its colonial and international roots, often sidelining public health and rehabilitation in favor of punitive control.