NDPS Act Drafting Internship: Introduction to the Law on Narcotic Drugs
Legal Vidhiya continues its commitment to promoting practical legal education and the overall development of law students and young legal professionals through specialised learning initiatives.
As part of this vision, Legal Vidhiya launches a mentor-led internship every month, providing participants with an opportunity to gain practical exposure alongside structured academic learning. These internships are designed to go beyond conventional internship experiences by incorporating interactive classes, subject-specific discussions, legal research and drafting exercises under the guidance of experienced mentors.
One-Month Online Internship on NDPS Act, 1985
The current internship focuses on the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, with particular emphasis on developing an understanding of the statutory framework and practical skills in NDPS-related legal drafting.
The introductory session was conducted by Nivedita Kaundinya, who introduced participants to the fundamental concepts and legal framework governing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India.
Key Areas Discussed
The introductory session covered several important aspects of the NDPS Act, including:
- Definitions and scope of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
- Constitutional and international foundations of the NDPS legislation
- The legal philosophy and stringent nature of the NDPS Act
- Classification of offences based on the quantity of substances involved
- Small, intermediate and commercial quantities
- Offences, punishments and provisions relating to bail
- Section 31A and enhanced punishment for specified repeat offences
- Legal provisions concerning consumption
- The rehabilitative approach towards persons involved in consumption
- Introduction to NDPS-related legal drafting and procedures
Why This Initiative Matters for Law Students
Understanding a statute requires more than simply reading its provisions. Law students also need to develop the ability to interpret provisions, apply them to factual situations and understand their practical implications.
Through its mentor-led internship model, Legal Vidhiya aims to provide students with an opportunity to:
- Develop specialised knowledge in emerging and significant areas of law
- Strengthen legal research and drafting skills
- Understand statutory provisions through interactive discussions
- Analyse legal issues through case-based learning
- Learn practical formats and approaches to legal drafting
- Interact directly with experienced mentors
- Build confidence in handling specialised legal matters
The objective is to ensure that an internship becomes more than a certificate on a student’s CV. It should provide meaningful learning, practical exposure and skills that can contribute to the student’s future legal career.
What Comes Next?
The upcoming sessions will focus on the practical aspects of NDPS-related legal drafting, including legal complaints, relevant documents, drafting formats and case-based exercises.
Through these structured sessions, participants will progressively move from understanding the statutory framework to learning how the law can be applied in practical legal situations.
Watch the Introductory Session
The introductory session on the Law on Narcotic Drugs with reference to the NDPS Act, 1985, conducted by Nivedita Kaundinya, is available on YouTube.
Watch the session here:
