Key Highlights 

• Decline in Global Tobacco Use: The global prevalence of current tobacco use among adults significantly dropped from 26.2% (2010) to 19.5% (2024).
  • Despite this reduction, 1 in 5 adult’s worldwide remains hooked on tobacco.
• Rising Popularity of E-Cigarettes: More than 100 million people worldwide use e-cigarettes.

India’s Progress and Status

• Tobacco Use in India (2024): In 2024, India accounted for approximately 243.48 million tobacco users aged 15 and older.
• India on Track to Meet WHO NCD Target: India's expected relative reduction in tobacco use prevalence between 2010 and 2025 is substantially high, projected at 43%.
  • WHO NCD Target to achieve a 30% reduction in tobacco use by 2025.

India’s Steps to Curb Tobacco Use

• Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003: Prohibits smoking in public places; ban on sale of tobacco products to minors, etc.
• Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2022: Provided images for display on package with health warnings.
• National Tobacco Control Programme: To create awareness & reduce the production and supply of tobacco products.
• Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.