Ethics
Haryana’s ‘Panchgama’ Model: A GS4 Example of Dedication to Public Service Against the Drug Menace
By Shivam Singh, Founder & Mentor, Minimalist IAS
· Updated · 3 min read
Haryana’s ‘Panchgama’ model, conceptualised by DGP Sagar Preet Hooda, is a community-led intervention against drug abuse that groups nearly 300 villages into 60 clusters of five, with volunteers, government institutions and police working alongside residents. Launching in Jind on 11 October, it is a ready GS4 example of dedication to public service and empathy towards the weaker sections.
In the news (26 September 2026): Haryana DGP Sagar Preet Hooda has conceptualised the ‘Panchgama’ development model, a village-cluster, community-led social intervention against the State’s spreading drug menace, set to launch in Jind on October 11.
Key facts at a glance
The model: nearly 300 villages grouped into 60 clusters of five villages each, with local volunteers, government institutions and police working alongside residents rather than relying on enforcement alone.
Ground precedent: it formalises grassroots efforts already under way, such as Rajthal village’s round-the-clock ‘thekri pehra’ (community vigil), an institution rooted in the Punjab Village and Small Towns Patrol Act, 1918.
Enforcement record: Haryana’s State Narcotics Control Bureau, formed in August 2020, has registered 2,353 FIRs and seized drug-linked assets worth ₹72.70 crore — even as officials concede supply cannot be fully curtailed while demand persists.
Scale of the problem: Haryana has the third-highest number of people needing help for opioid-related problems among States (5.9 lakh), per the Magnitude of Substance Use in India, 2019 report.
Rehabilitation gap: the State has no rehabilitation centre run or supported entirely by its own government; existing private centres operate without government assistance and face regulatory hurdles.
Which ethical values does it illustrate?
Proactively building trust-based, participatory governance for a vulnerable rural population — rather than waiting for enforcement outcomes — illustrates dedication to public service and empathy and compassion towards the weaker sections, both named among UPSC’s foundational values for civil servants.
Why it matters for UPSC
GS Paper 4 (Ethics): use it as a positive exemplar rather than a dilemma, to show how empathy, foundational values and participative governance strengthen ethical public administration beyond routine law enforcement.
Practice: Mains question
Discuss how participatory, community-based models of public service delivery strengthen the ethical foundations of governance, with reference to a recent initiative to combat substance abuse in rural India. (150 words)
Terms to know
DGP: Director General of Police
FIR: First Information Report
NDPS: Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act
Frequently asked questions
What is Haryana’s Panchgama model?
Panchgama is a community-led intervention against drug abuse conceptualised by Haryana DGP Sagar Preet Hooda. It groups nearly 300 villages into 60 clusters of five, with volunteers, government institutions and police working alongside residents. It launches in Jind on 11 October 2026.
What is ‘thekri pehra’?
Thekri pehra is a round-the-clock community vigil, practised in villages such as Rajthal in Haryana, rooted in the Punjab Village and Small Towns Patrol Act, 1918. The Panchgama model formalises efforts like it.
How can the Panchgama model be used in a GS4 answer?
As a positive example of dedication to public service and empathy towards the weaker sections — values UPSC lists for civil servants — showing how participative governance goes beyond routine law enforcement.
How serious is the drug problem in Haryana?
Haryana has the third-highest number of people needing help for opioid-related problems among States, 5.9 lakh, according to the Magnitude of Substance Use in India, 2019 report.
Key takeaways
Panchgama shifts the anti-drug effort from enforcement alone to community participation.
The enforcement record is real (2,353 FIRs), but officials concede demand keeps supply alive.
A ready GS4 exemplar for dedication to public service and compassion towards the weaker sections.
Related reading
From The Daily UPSC Brief, 26 September 2026 — by Shivam Singh.
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About the author
Shivam Singh
Founder & Mentor, Minimalist IAS
Shivam has been through every stage of the exam himself — Prelims, repeated Mains attempts across UPSC and state civil services, and the interview board. For 7 years he has mentored aspirants one-to-one, helping 100+ clear various stages of the exam, including final selections.
More about Shivam →