Tobacco is a major preventable cause of disease, impacting nearly 26 crores Indians and 60 lakh industry workers, and posing significant health risks.

Status of tobacco use in India

• Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS): It indicates a general decline in tobacco use among adults aged 15 and older, with the exception of an increase among women between 2015-2016 and 2019-2021.
• Decline in Youth Tobacco Use: The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) shows a decrease in tobacco use among students aged 13-15 years.
• NFHS Data: The National Family Health Survey (NFHS), which records tobacco usage data for individuals aged 15 and above, mirrors the findings of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) by indicating a decline in tobacco consumption overall, with the exception being among women.

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WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of WHO which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2003.

• Ratification by India: India ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2004, the first ever international public health treaty focusing on the global public health issue of tobacco control.
• Objective:
• • Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.
  • Non-price measures to reduce the demand for tobacco
  • Protection from exposure to second hand tobacco smoke.
  • Tobacco content and product regulation

Steps taken by Government to Limit Tobacco Use

• Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA): The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, superseded the Cigarettes Act of 1975, expanding its scope beyond cigarettes to include various tobacco products like cigars, bidis, chewing tobacco, and pan masala.
• National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP): It was launched in 2007 and is designed to improve the implementation of COTPA and FCTC, improve awareness about the harms of tobacco use, and help people quit it.
• mCessation: It is India’s mobile-based tobacco cessation initiative, launched in 2016 as part of Digital India. 
  • It employs text messaging for interactive support between users seeking to quit tobacco and program specialists.

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