Is NCB exempt from RTI under Section 24 like IB or RAW?

No. Section 24 of the RTI Act, 2005, exempts only those intelligence and security organisations specifically listed in the Second Schedule to the Act. The Second Schedule lists agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the Narcotics Intelligence Bureau (though a sub-unit), and several others — but the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) as a whole is not listed as an exempt organisation in the Second Schedule. NCB is therefore a fully covered public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, and is required to respond to RTI applications in the normal course. The practical limitation on NCB RTI is not Section 24 exemption but Section 8(1)(h): information whose disclosure would impede the process of investigation, apprehension, or prosecution of offenders. NCB routinely invokes this for specific case files and ongoing operations. However, aggregate statistics, policy documents, sensitisation programme data, and inter-agency coordination frameworks — which form the subject of this guide — are generally not shielded by Section 8(1)(h) and should be disclosed.

What drug seizure data can RTI realistically obtain from NCB — and what will NCB refuse?

RTI CAN typically obtain from NCB: (1) aggregate annual drug seizure statistics — total quantity seized by drug type and NCB zone — as reported in NCB's Annual Report or internal records; (2) the total number of NDPS Act cases registered by NCB in a financial year, broken down by zone and drug type; (3) the budget allocated and expenditure incurred on sensitisation and awareness programmes, with beneficiary count; (4) details of MoUs and inter-agency coordination agreements with Customs, BSF, Coast Guard, CBI, or other agencies — scope and date, without operational details; (5) the sanctioned and actual staff strength and zonal unit jurisdictions; (6) NCB's annual report data, standard operating procedures, and policy circulars. RTI WILL NOT typically obtain: (1) details of any specific ongoing narcotics case or investigation — name of accused, evidence collected, informant identity, or surveillance methods, all exempt under Section 8(1)(h); (2) details that could reveal the identity of informants or tipsters (Section 8(1)(g)); (3) the contents of any specific intelligence input that led to a seizure; (4) operational details of past or ongoing inter-agency joint operations even if an MoU exists. Framing your RTI around aggregate, statistical, and policy-level information — as in the sample draft in this guide — maximises the prospect of a substantive reply.

How do I file an RTI with NCB through rtionline.gov.in?

Go to rtionline.gov.in and click 'Submit Request'. In the public authority selection, choose 'Ministry of Home Affairs' from the ministry list, then select 'Narcotics Control Bureau' from the department list. Draft your application in the text box — you can copy and adapt the sample draft provided in this guide. Pay the ₹10 fee online via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. If you are a BPL cardholder, select the BPL exemption and attach a self-attested copy of your BPL ration card to claim a fee waiver. After submission, note your registration number carefully — you will need it for any subsequent First Appeal or status tracking. NCB is required to respond within 30 days of receipt of the application. If the matter concerns life or liberty (an unusual scenario for aggregate data requests), the deadline is 48 hours under the Section 7(1) proviso.

NCB did not respond or gave a blanket Section 8(1)(h) refusal for aggregate statistics. What should I do?

If NCB does not respond within 30 days, or gives a blanket refusal citing Section 8(1)(h) for aggregate statistical or programme data that has no connection to any specific ongoing investigation, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at NCB within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. In your First Appeal, specifically argue that: (a) aggregate annual drug seizure statistics by drug type and zone are compiled data already published or maintained by NCB in its Annual Report — they do not reveal any specific ongoing investigation; (b) sensitisation programme budgets and beneficiary counts are expenditure data routinely disclosable under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act (mandatory proactive disclosure); and (c) a blanket Section 8(1)(h) claim must specifically identify which investigation would be impeded and how — a general refusal without that nexus is insufficient in law. If the FAA does not respond satisfactorily, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. NCB is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Home Affairs, so the second appeal always goes to the CIC, not any State Information Commission.

Can a researcher or journalist use RTI to obtain comprehensive NCB drug seizure trend data for academic or public-interest reporting?

Yes. Researchers, journalists, and civil society organisations are entitled to file RTI applications on the same terms as any other citizen — the RTI Act, 2005, does not require the applicant to state a reason for seeking information (Section 6(2) explicitly says this). RTI is a legitimate and frequently used tool for obtaining NCB's drug seizure data for academic research, public health policy analysis, journalism, and parliamentary advocacy. NCB publishes an Annual Report which contains aggregate seizure statistics; an RTI can confirm, supplement, or seek more granularly disaggregated data from that baseline. Useful angles for researchers include: drug-type-specific seizure trends across multiple financial years (to identify shifts in trafficking patterns), state/zone-level seizure data (to map geographic hotspots), budget allocation trends for demand-reduction versus supply-interdiction programmes, and the scope of inter-agency coordination frameworks. When framing a multi-year or multi-question RTI, be specific about each financial year for which you seek data and each drug category you are interested in — vague or overbroad requests increase the risk of a refusal on grounds of being unclear or disproportionately burdensome.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with NCB — Drug Seizure Statistics, Sensitisation Programme Expenditure, and Inter-Agency Coordination

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How to File RTI with NCB — Drug Seizure Statistics, Sensitisation Programme Expenditure, and Inter-Agency Coordination

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under the Ministry of Home Affairs for aggregate drug seizure data (by type, quantity, and zone), sensitisation programme expenditure and reach, inter-agency coordination statistics, and zonal unit jurisdiction. Note: NCB is NOT exempt under Section 24 (it is not listed in the Second Schedule), but ongoing case investigation details are withheld under Section 8(1)(h). Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 1 Jun 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Home Affairs

Address RTI ToCPIO, Narcotics Control Bureau, West Block-1, Wing-5, R.K. Puram, New Delhi – 110066

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is India's apex counter-narcotics law-enforcement agency, established under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act). It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is responsible for coordinating drug law enforcement across Central and state agencies, making drug seizures, gathering narcotics intelligence, and conducting anti-drug sensitisation programmes. NCB is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, and — crucially — is not exempt from RTI under Section 24, since it is not listed in the Second Schedule to the Act.

This guide explains how citizens, researchers, journalists, and public health advocates can use RTI to access aggregate drug seizure statistics, sensitisation programme expenditure, inter-agency coordination frameworks, and zonal unit information — while clearly noting what NCB will legitimately withhold under Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act.

What NCB Can and Cannot Disclose Through RTI

NCB is a fully covered public authority under the RTI Act, 2005. The key practical limitation is not organisational exemption under Section 24 but the investigative-secrecy exemption under Section 8(1)(h), which shields information whose disclosure would impede the process of investigation, apprehension, or prosecution of offenders. Understanding this distinction is essential before drafting an RTI.

NCB CAN provide through RTI:

Information	Notes
Annual drug seizure statistics by type, quantity, and zone	Aggregate compiled data not tied to any single ongoing case
Number of NDPS Act cases registered by NCB per financial year	Broken down by zone and drug type — as in NCB Annual Report or internal records
Sensitisation programme budget and beneficiary count	Expenditure data that falls under Section 4(1)(b) mandatory proactive disclosure
Inter-agency MoU details (party agencies, date, scope)	Framework documents; operational details of specific joint operations can be withheld
Zonal unit jurisdictions — states/UTs covered by each zone	Organisational/administrative structure information
Sanctioned and actual staff strength per zonal unit	Personnel deployment figures at aggregate/zonal level
NCB's Annual Report data and policy circulars	Already published or readily disclosable governance documents

NCB WILL ALMOST ALWAYS WITHHOLD:

Information	Exemption relied upon
Details of any specific ongoing narcotics case — accused identity, evidence, methods	Section 8(1)(h) — impedes investigation and prosecution
Identity of informants, tipsters, or sources of narcotics intelligence	Section 8(1)(g) — could endanger life or safety
Operational details of past or ongoing inter-agency joint operations	Section 8(1)(h) — could compromise investigation methodology
Contents of specific intelligence inputs that preceded a seizure	Section 8(1)(h) and Section 8(1)(e)
Details of individual case files in which trial is pending or ongoing	Section 8(1)(h) continues until criminal proceedings are concluded

Key distinction: NCB's aggregate Annual Report data and programme expenditure figures are routinely compiled and do not expose any ongoing investigation. These should be provided. A blanket refusal of aggregate statistical data under Section 8(1)(h) — without identifying a specific ongoing investigation that would be impeded — is legally weak and should be challenged in First Appeal or CIC Second Appeal.

NCB's Zonal Structure and Where RTI Fits In

NCB operates through a network of Zonal Units spread across India, each covering a defined set of states and union territories. The Zonal Units serve as the operational arms for seizures, arrests, and inter-agency coordination at the regional level. For RTI purposes, the CPIO at NCB's headquarters in New Delhi handles all applications filed through rtionline.gov.in — you do not need to separately approach individual Zonal Units.

Understanding NCB's zonal structure is useful when seeking data at a granular level. You can specifically ask for seizure statistics disaggregated by zone, which reveals regional trafficking patterns and the operational intensity of different NCB units. Similarly, asking for staff strength and sanctioned posts by zone helps assess whether resource allocation matches the drug trafficking load in a region — useful for researchers, public health advocates, and parliamentary researchers seeking to evaluate NCB's operational capacity.

NCB also works in close coordination with the Customs (CBIC), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indian Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), state police narcotic cells, and the Narcotics Intelligence Bureau (NIB). RTI can shed light on the formal frameworks governing this coordination, even if operational case details remain protected.

Where to File

File with NCB through rtionline.gov.in:

Go to rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request
In the ministry list, select Ministry of Home Affairs, then select Narcotics Control Bureau in the public authority list
Draft your application — ask for aggregate statistical data, programme expenditure figures, or MoU and organisational details. For each query, specify the financial year or date for which you seek data. Avoid asking for case-specific or individual-accused details
Pay ₹10 online via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. BPL cardholders are exempt — select the BPL exemption and attach a self-attested copy of your BPL ration card
Submit and note your registration number for tracking

Practical tip: NCB publishes an Annual Report each year containing aggregate seizure statistics. Before filing RTI, check whether NCB's latest Annual Report (available on ncb.gov.in) already contains the data you need. If the Annual Report covers the period but lacks the disaggregation or zone-level detail you require, RTI is the appropriate route to seek that additional granularity from NCB's internal records.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For

The following categories of information are realistic candidates for disclosure through RTI with NCB:

1. Annual drug seizure statistics by type, quantity, and zone

Ask for the total quantity of each major drug category (heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, opium, pharmaceutical drugs diverted from legal supply, synthetic drugs) seized by NCB in a specified financial year, broken down by NCB Zonal Unit. This is compiled data that NCB maintains in its own records and Annual Report — there is no individual case detail that need be disclosed.

2. Number of NDPS Act cases registered by NCB

Ask for the total number of cases registered by NCB under the NDPS Act in a specified financial year, broken down by zone and drug type. The number of cases registered is an administrative count — it does not expose the details of any individual investigation.

3. Sensitisation programme budget and reach

Ask for the total budget allocation and actual expenditure on NCB's anti-drug awareness and sensitisation programmes (school/college outreach, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, community programmes) in a given financial year, along with the approximate number of beneficiaries reached. This falls squarely within the proactive disclosure obligation under Section 4(1)(b)(xi) of the RTI Act, which requires public authorities to disclose details of programmes and beneficiaries.

4. Inter-agency MoU details

Ask for the names of agencies party to any inter-agency narcotics coordination MoU currently in force, the date each MoU was signed, and the broad scope of coordination. Explicitly state that you are not seeking operational details of specific past or ongoing joint operations. MoU framework documents are governance records that do not expose any individual investigation.

5. Zonal unit jurisdictions and staff strength

Ask for the list of states and union territories covered by each NCB Zonal Unit, and the sanctioned staff strength per zone. These are organisational structure facts that NCB is required to publish under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act.

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If NCB does not respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete, unsatisfactory, or contains a blanket Section 8(1)(h) refusal for aggregate data that has no connection to any specific ongoing investigation, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at NCB within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. Address the First Appeal to the First Appellate Authority, Narcotics Control Bureau, West Block-1, Wing-5, R.K. Puram, New Delhi – 110066. In your First Appeal, clearly argue that aggregate annual statistics and programme expenditure data are not shielded by Section 8(1)(h), since disclosing compiled totals by drug type and zone does not reveal the details of any specific ongoing investigation.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. NCB is a Central Government body under the Ministry of Home Affairs — all second appeals go to the CIC, not any State Information Commission.

Penalty for wilful non-disclosure: Under Section 20 of the RTI Act, 2005, if the CIC finds that the CPIO refused to provide information without reasonable cause, or wilfully gave incorrect information, it may impose a penalty of ₹250 per day up to a maximum of ₹25,000, and may recommend disciplinary action. Where NCB's refusal of aggregate statistical data is plainly unjustified — for instance, a refusal to provide Annual Report-type seizure totals by citing Section 8(1)(h) without identifying any specific case — this penalty provision provides a meaningful lever in Second Appeal proceedings.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Narcotics Control Bureau,
West Block-1, Wing-5, R.K. Puram,
New Delhi – 110066

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Annual Drug Seizure Statistics, Sensitisation Programme Expenditure, Inter-Agency Coordination, and Zonal Unit Information

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

Information sought:

1. The total quantity of narcotics and psychotropic substances seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau during the financial year [YYYY-YY] (or the most recent financial year for which data is available), broken down by:
   (a) Type/category of drug (e.g., heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, opium, synthetic drugs, pharmaceutical drugs diverted from legal supply chains);
   (b) Quantity seized (in kilograms or relevant unit); and
   (c) NCB Zonal Unit from which the seizure was reported (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, etc.).

2. The total number of cases registered by NCB during the financial year [YYYY-YY] (or the most recent available year) under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act), broken down by (a) zonal unit and (b) type of drug involved — as available in NCB's Annual Report or official records.

3. The total budget allocated and the actual expenditure incurred by NCB on anti-drug sensitisation and awareness programmes (including school and college outreach, community programmes, and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan activities) during the financial year [YYYY-YY] (or the most recent available year), along with the approximate number of beneficiaries reached through such programmes.

4. The details of any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or formal inter-agency coordination agreement currently in force between NCB and any other Central Government agency (such as Customs, BSF, CISF, Coast Guard, or CBI) for joint narcotics enforcement operations — specifically: (a) the names of the agencies party to each MoU; (b) the date on which each MoU was signed; and (c) a brief description of the scope of coordination envisaged. (Note: I am not seeking operational details of any specific past or ongoing joint operation.)

5. The current jurisdictional territory assigned to each NCB Zonal Unit across India — including the list of states and union territories covered by each zonal unit — and the total sanctioned strength of staff (officers and support personnel combined) deployed in each zonal unit as on the most recently available date.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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