**Policy Summary: Measures to Curb Tobacco Use Among Women and Children**
This policy outlines the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's (MoHFW) initiatives to reduce tobacco consumption among women and children in India. Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) indicates a decline in tobacco use among women (age 15 years and above) from 20.3% (GATS I, 2009-10) to 14.2% (GATS 2, 2016-17). The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) reports a reduction in tobacco use among school children (ages 13-15) from 14.6% (GYTS3, 2009) to 8.5% (GYTS4, 2019).
Key measures implemented by the MoHFW include:
1. **The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003:** This comprehensive legislation regulates tobacco products, prohibits smoking in public places, bans the sale of tobacco to and by minors, prohibits sales within 100 yards of educational institutions, bans direct and indirect advertising, and mandates specified health warnings on tobacco product packaging.
2. **National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP):** Launched in 2007, the NTCP aims to discourage tobacco use, raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption through public awareness campaigns, and ensure the effective implementation of COTPA 2003. A 60-day annual Tobacco Free Youth Campaign is conducted to educate young people.
3. **The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019:** This act enforces a complete ban on electronic cigarettes, including heat-not-burn products.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on July 29, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy in India, which has implemented measures to curb tobacco use.
Global Adult Tobacco Survey: A global survey (GATS I 200910 and GATS2 201617) that monitors tobacco use among adults aged 15 years and above.
Global Youth Tobacco Survey: A global survey (GYTS3, 2009 to GYTS4, 2019) that monitors tobacco use among school-going children aged 13-15 years.
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003: A comprehensive legislation (COTPA 2003) enacted in India to regulate tobacco products and discourage tobacco consumption.
National Tobacco Control Programme: A program (NTCP) launched in 2007 in India to discourage tobacco use and create awareness about its harmful effects.
Tobacco Free Youth Campaign: A 60-day annual campaign by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to educate young people about the dangers of tobacco.
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement Act,2019: The act enforces a complete ban on electronic cigarettes including heat-not burn products.
Rajya Sabha: The Upper House of the Parliament of India, where the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare provided information related to tobacco control.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Measures to curb tobacco use among women and
children
Tobacco use among women declines from 20.3% to
14.2%: GATS Surveys
Use of tobacco among school children aged 13–15
drops from 14.6% to 8.5%: Global Youth Tobacco
Survey
Posted On: 29 JUL 2025 3:53PM by PIB Delhi
As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) -I (2009-10) and GATS-2 (2016-17) conducted among age
group of 15 years and above there is a decline in tobacco use among women from 20.3% to 14.2%. Further,
Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted for school-going children of age group 13-15 years
reported a decline in tobacco use from 14.6% (GYTS-3, 2009) to 8.5% (GYTS-4, 2019).
The measures taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to reduce tobacco consumption
are:
A comprehensive legislation, namely the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of
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Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act,
2003 (COTPA 2003) has been enacted to regulate the tobacco products and to discourage the
consumption of tobacco. The provisions under COTPA, 2003 and the Rules made thereunder
prohibit smoking in public places, ban on sale of tobacco products to and by minors, sale of
tobacco products within a radius of 100 yards of educational institutions, prohibition on direct and
indirect advertising of tobacco products and mandatory display of specified health warnings on all
tobacco product packs.
The National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched in 2007 with the aim to
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discourage the use of tobacco, create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption
through regular and sustained public awareness campaigns and ensure effective implementation of
the provisions under COTPA 2003. As part of these awareness efforts, MoH&FW also launches a
60-day annual Tobacco Free Youth Campaign to educate young people about the dangers of
tobacco and empower them to resist or quit its use.
The Government has enforced a complete ban on electronic cigarettes including heat-not burn
(cid:108)
products under “The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import,
Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act,2019.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a writtenreply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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MV
HFW/ Measures to curb tobacco use among women and children /29 July, 2025/3
(Release ID: 2149692)