India, Aug. 21 -- New Delhi

The Union Government on Wednesday outlined the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), drone technology, and satellite imaging in efforts to detect and destroy illicit cultivation of narcotics, including opium poppy and cannabis.

In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been collaborating with specialised research institutions such as the Advanced Data Processing Research Institute (ADRIN), the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N), and other centres.

These agencies provide satellite images which help identify suspected areas of illegal cultivation. The NCB then shares t...