Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) addressed concerns regarding deaths caused by tobacco use in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2259 on August 1, 2025. The response details the estimated number of tobacco-related deaths, measures taken to reduce tobacco addiction, and efforts to enforce regulations and promote awareness. The Ministry is actively working to discourage tobacco use through legislation, programs, and campaigns.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Mortality Data:**
* Approximately 1.3 million deaths are estimated to be caused by tobacco consumption, including smokeless tobacco, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey GATS 2, 2016-17.
* **Legislative Measures:**
* The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act COTPA 2003 regulates tobacco products and discourages consumption.
* Provisions under COTPA 2003 prohibit smoking in public places and ban the sale of tobacco products to minors, the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions, direct and indirect advertising, and mandate health warnings on product packs.
* The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 enforces a complete ban on electronic cigarettes.
* **National Tobacco Control Programme NTCP:**
* Launched in 2007 to discourage tobacco use and raise awareness.
* Aims to ensure effective implementation of COTPA 2003.
* StatesUTs undertake enforcement drives for COTPA 2003.
* The Ministry has also issued the Guidelines for Tobacco Free Educational Institution Revised.
* **Awareness Campaigns:**
* Annual 60-Day Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign started in 2023 to generate awareness among young people.
Impact Analysis:
* **General Public:**
* Impact: Reduced exposure to tobacco products and promotion of healthier choices through awareness campaigns and stricter regulations.
* Action Required: Be aware of regulations regarding tobacco use in public places and support efforts to reduce tobacco consumption.
* **Tobacco Industry:**
* Impact: Restrictions on advertising, production, and sales of tobacco products.
* Action Required: Comply with COTPA 2003 and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.
* **Educational Institutions:**
* Impact: Enforcement of tobacco-free environments within and around their premises.
* Action Required: Implement the Guidelines for Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions Revised and enforce the ban on tobacco products within 100 yards of the institution.
* **State and UT Governments:**
* Impact: Responsibility for enforcing COTPA 2003 and participating in the NTCP.
* Action Required: Undertake enforcement drives and participate in awareness campaigns.
* **Youth:**
* Impact: Targeted awareness campaigns to discourage tobacco use and promote healthy choices.
* Action Required: Participate in awareness campaigns and make informed decisions regarding tobacco use.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW): The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS): An international survey that collects data on adult tobacco use.
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003): An Indian law enacted to regulate tobacco products and discourage tobacco consumption.
National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP): An Indian government program launched in 2007 to discourage tobacco use and create awareness about its harmful effects.
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement Act, 2019: An Indian law that bans electronic cigarettes.
Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign: An annual 60-day campaign by MoHFW to raise awareness among young people about the dangers of tobacco consumption.
Shri Prataprao Jadhav: Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India: The country to which the policy applies.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2259
TO BE ANSWERED ON01STAUGUST2025
DEATHSDUE TO TOBACCOUSE
2259.SHRIDHARAMBIR SINGH:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the number of annual deaths caused by tobacco
use including bidi, cigarette, khaini, gutkha and other smokeless tobacco products
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the data, if any, collected by the Government or WHO regarding
tobacco-related deaths and diseases in the country during the last five years;
(c) the measures taken by the Government to prevent such deaths and to reduce tobacco
addiction in both urban and rural areas of the country;
(d) whether strong action is being taken to ban the production, sale and advertising of
these harmful substances, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government plans to intensify awareness campaigns and promote
tobacco de-addiction services all over the country and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) & (b): As per the Report of the second round of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-
2), 2016-17, deaths caused by tobacco consumption, including smokeless tobacco are
estimated to be over 13 lakhs.
(c) to (e): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has taken various
measures to reduce tobacco addiction bothin urbanand rural areas. Someof the major steps
implementedbythe Ministry are:
A comprehensive legislation, namely the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products
(Prohibition of 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, 2003andthe Rulesmade thereunder prohibit smoking inpublic places,banon
sale of tobacco products to and by minors, sale of tobacco products within a radius of100 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, etc.
The National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched in 2007 with the aim
to 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. The States/UTs
undertake drives for enforcement of COTPA 2003. The Ministry has also issued the
“Guidelinesfor Tobacco FreeEducationalInstitution (Revised)”.
The Government has enforced a complete ban on electronic cigarettes including heat-
not burn products under “The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production,
Manufacture, Import, Export,Transport, Sale,Distribution, Storage andAdvertisement)
Act,2019.
MoH&FW started an annual 60-Day Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign in 2023 covering
all States/UTs with the aim of generating awareness amongst young people about the
dangersof tobaccoconsumption andempowering them tomake healthychoices.
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