The Revenue Secretary of India has launched a unified portal of the Central Bureau of Narcotics, which is a subordinate office under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. This new portal has been created to provide efficiency, transparency, and accountability to reduce the time taken by the pharma industry to get a trade license. It also aims to cater to the needs and synergistic growth of the drugs and pharma sector.

Features of the Portal

The portal is cloud-based and includes simplified processes, as well as database integration with other government services such as Bharat Kosh, GST, PAN- NSDL validation, e-Sanchit, and UIDAI. With the implementation of this new system, the essential narcotic drugs and medicines will be available to the patients and their attendants.

Significance of the Portal

The unified portal of the Central Bureau of Narcotics is a significant step towards ensuring the availability of essential narcotic drugs and medicines to the patients and their attendants. The launch of this portal is a significant move towards making the drug and pharma sector more efficient, transparent, and accountable. By integrating with other government services, it will help reduce the time taken by the pharma industry to get a trade license.

Central Bureau of Narcotics

The Central Bureau of Narcotics is a subordinate office under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, which is headquartered in Gwalior. It works under the ambit of various United Nations Conventions and the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985. India is a signatory to the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971, and UN Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988, which obligates member countries to monitor the implementation of the United Nations drug control conventions.

Functions of the Central Bureau of Narcotics

The Central Bureau of Narcotics is responsible for the supervision over the licit cultivation of opium poppy in India, preventive and enforcement functions, investigation of cases under the NDPS Act 1985, issuance of Export Authorizations/Import Certificates for export, and issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for import/export of Precursor Chemicals. The bureau is headed by the Narcotics Commissioner (NC) and assisted by three Deputy Narcotics Commissioners (DNCs) and other officers.

Why In News

Sure, here’s a modified sentence with additional information: “On 14th April 2023, the Revenue Secretary of India launched a new unified portal for the Central Bureau of Narcotics, aimed at improving the efficiency and transparency of the pharma industry while ensuring the availability of essential narcotic drugs and medicines to patients and their attendants.

MCQs about Role of Central Bureau of Narcotics

  1. What is the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN)?
    A. A department under the Ministry of Finance
    B. A government agency that supervises the illicit drug trade
    C. A private organization that deals with the distribution of medicines
    D. None of the above
    Correct Answer: A. A department under the Ministry of Finance
    Explanation: The Central Bureau of Narcotics is a subordinate office under the Department of Revenue, which is a part of the Ministry of Finance. The CBN is responsible for supervising the licit cultivation of opium poppy in India, among other functions.
  2. What is the significance of the unified portal launched by the Revenue Secretary for the Central Bureau of Narcotics?
    A. It will reduce the time taken by the pharma industry to get a trade license.
    B. It will prevent the illicit trafficking of drugs and narcotics.
    C. It will provide free medicines to patients.
    D. None of the above.
    Correct Answer: A. It will reduce the time taken by the pharma industry to get a trade license.
    Explanation: The unified portal launched by the Revenue Secretary for the Central Bureau of Narcotics will instill efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the process of obtaining a trade license, which will reduce the time taken by the pharma industry to get the license.
  3. What are the functions of the Central Bureau of Narcotics?
    A. Investigation of cases under the NDPS Act 1985
    B. Issuance of Export Authorizations/ Import Certificate for export
    C. Supervision over licit cultivation of opium poppy in India
    D. All of the above
    Correct Answer: D. All of the above
    Explanation: The Central Bureau of Narcotics has several functions, including supervision over the licit cultivation of opium poppy in India, preventive and enforcement functions, investigation of cases under the NDPS Act 1985, and issuance of Export Authorizations/Import Certificate for export, among others.
  4. What are the international drug control conventions that India is a signatory to?
    A. UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961
    B. UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971
    C. UN Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988
    D. All of the above
    Correct Answer: D. All of the above
    Explanation: India is a signatory to the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971, and the UN Convention against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988, which obligates member countries to monitor the implementation of the United Nations drug control conventions.

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