India became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 27, 2005.
Smoke Free Places: Smoking is completely banned in many public places and workplaces such as healthcare, educational, and government facilities and on public transport. The law, however, permits the establishment of smoking areas or spaces in airports, hotels having 30 or more rooms, and restaurants having seating capacity for 30 or more. With respect to outdoor places, open auditoriums, stadiums, railway stations, bus stops/stands are smoke free. Sub-national jurisdictions may enact smoke free laws that are more stringent than the national law.
Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship: Advertising through most forms of mass media, including online curated content, is prohibited. There are some restrictions on tobacco sponsorship and the publicity of such sponsorship.
Tobacco Packaging and Labeling: Health warning labels are pictorial and text; cover 85 percent of the front and back panels of the tobacco product package parallel to the top edge; and are rotated every 12 months. Misleading packaging and labeling, including terms such as “light,” and “low-tar” and other signs, is prohibited.
Tobacco Taxation and Prices: The World Health Organization recommends raising tobacco excise taxes so that they account for at least 70 percent of retail prices. Tobacco excise taxes in India are well below these recommendations.
| SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENTS COMPLETE SMOKING BAN | |
|---|---|
|
Health-care facilities
Yes
|
Private offices
Yes
|
|
Primary and secondary schools
Yes
|
Public transport
Yes
|
|
Universities
Yes
|
Restaurants
No
|
|
Governmental facilities
Yes
|
Bars and Pubs
No
|
|
Can subnational jurisdictions enact more stringent smoking restrictions?
Yes
|
|
| BANS ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION, AND SPONSORSHIP | |
|---|---|
|
Domestic TV and radio
Yes
|
Promotional discounts
Yes
|
|
Domestic magazines and newspapers
Yes
|
Non-tobacco products or services with tobacco brand names
Yes
|
|
Outdoor advertising
Yes
|
Tobacco products with non-tobacco brand names
Yes
|
|
Outdoor advertising (e.g., billboards, posters)
Yes
|
Paid placement in media
Yes
|
|
Retail product display
Uncertain
|
Financial sponsorship, including corporate social responsibility
Yes
|
|
Internet advertising
Yes
|
Publicity of sponsorships
Yes
|
|
Free distribution
Yes
|
|
| HEALTH WARNINGS ON SMOKED TOBACCO PRODUCTS | |
|---|---|
|
Text warnings describe health impacts
Yes
|
Number of published warnings at any given time
1
|
|
Warnings include a picture or graphic
Yes
|
Warnings required to rotate
Required
|
|
% of principal display areas covered (front and back)
85%
|
Warnings are written in the principal language(s)
Yes
|
|
Front
85%
|
Ban on misleading packaging and labeling
Yes
|
|
Back
85%
|
Health warnings on smokeless tobacco products
Yes
|
| TOBACCO TAXATION AND PRICE | |
|---|---|
| PRICE OF MOST SOLD BRAND, PACK OF 20 CIGARETTES | TAXES ON MOST SOLD BRAND (% OF RETAIL PRICE) |
|
In country currency
190.00
INR
|
Total taxes
58%
|
|
In US dollars
2.54
USD
|
Total excise
31%
|
Sources:
SF, APS, PL: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Legal Website. Available at: www.tobaccocontrollaws.org
Tax: WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021. Available at: www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/
Last updated: December 5, 2023