DRI and CBN Jointly Destroy Illegal Cannabis Cultivation Spanning 2.87 Hectares in Maharashtra Wildlife Sanctuary
Distilled Policy Brief
- The operation, conducted on 14.10.2026 near Jamniyapani village in Shirpur, Maharashtra, successfully utilized rotavators in the presence of police and forest department officials after completing legal formalities.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Illegal cannabis cultivation spanning 2.87 hectares (7.08 acres) in a wildlife sanctuary in Dhule district, Maharashtra, was jointly destroyed by DRI and CBN on 14.10.2026.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Examine the role of central enforcement agencies like DRI and CBN in curbing illicit drug cultivation and trafficking, and the challenges posed by operations in remote and difficult terrains.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
Consider the following statements regarding the joint operation conducted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) in October 2026: 1. The operation targeted the illicit cultivation of cannabis in a wildlife sanctuary located in the Dhule district of Maharashtra. 2. The illicit crop spread across the identified plots was destroyed using rotavators in the presence of police and forest department officials after completing legal formalities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Both statements are correct based on the official release. The DRI and CBN successfully conducted a joint operation near Jamniyapani village in Shirpur, Maharashtra, destroying 2.87 hectares of illegal cannabis cultivation inside a wildlife sanctuary in the Dhule district using rotavators in the presence of police and forest department officials.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.