{"id":167784,"date":"2025-05-30T19:48:41","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T14:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&p=167784"},"modified":"2025-05-30T19:48:41","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T14:18:41","slug":"tobacco-crisis-in-india","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/tobacco-crisis-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Tobacco Crisis in India: Country Tops Global Male Cancer Rates Amid Rising Use &#038; Weak Regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>India now ranks first globally<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in<\/span><b> male cancer incidence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and mortality, driven by <\/span><b>high tobacco use <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and rising affordability of harmful products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Also Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/world-no-tobacco-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World No Tobacco Day 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Tobacco Use in India<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Widespread Use: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is home to over<\/span><b> 270 million tobacco users.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><b>According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016-17 ( GATS 2 ), 199 million Indians use smokeless tobacco(SLT), 72 million smoke bidis, and 37 million smoke cigarettes.<\/b><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"2\"><b>India is home to 70% of the world\u2019s SLT users.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8999%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>World No Tobacco Day 2025<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>World No Tobacco Day<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is observed annually on May 31, initiated by the<\/span><b> WHO in 1987 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to highlight the harms of tobacco.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Theme 2025: \u201cUnmasking the Appeal\u201d<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The theme<\/span><b> aims to expose the evolving tactics of the tobacco industry <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rebranding itself as a <\/span><b>wellness sector, especially via flavoured, sleek nicotine products.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Use across Genders: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to<\/span><b> GATS2 data, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nearly<\/span><b> 42% of men<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span><b> 14% of women<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India use tobacco.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cultivation Hubs: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tobacco is cultivated mainly in<\/span><b> Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and<\/span><b> Gujarat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, supporting livelihoods but<\/span><b> worsening public health burdens.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Heavy Economic Burden<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Tobacco use cost India <\/span><b>\u20b91.77 lakh crore in 2017\u201318<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, amounting to <\/span><b>1.04% of GDP, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with <\/span><b>smoking contributing 74% of this burden<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Challenges in Implementing\u00a0 complete Tobacco Ban<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Policy Interference: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tobacco industry influences policy through lobbying and CSR activities to prevent stringent laws.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rising Affordability Despite Taxation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite proposed<\/span><b> GST at 35%,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it falls short of<\/span><b> WHO\u2019s 75% MRP tax recommendation,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> making tobacco still affordable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Price Undermines Deterrence:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Bidis cost as low as<\/span><b> \u20b95 ( less than a cup of tea ) , cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are also available at \u20b95\u2013\u20b912<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, within reach of low daily earners.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Single Stick Sales:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Selling <\/span><b>single cigarettes,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> common in<\/span><b> 87% of outlets, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bypasses health warnings and maintains low purchase barriers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Industry Tactics:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Manufacturers use<\/span><b> \u201cundershifting\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to absorb taxes keeping the price unchanged despite a raise in taxes and affordability is also\u00a0 preserved through<\/span><b> unit pricing and rising incomes.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Weak Enforcement: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite a<\/span><b> ban on gutkha and e-cigarettes,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> products are rebranded as <\/span><b>herbal or Ayurvedic to bypass regulations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, exploiting legal grey areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Digital Loopholes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Online sales of nicotine products lack strict age verification, allowing youth access to flavoured pouches and lozenges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dual Income for Companies\u00a0 : <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Major tobacco firms now invest in pharmaceutical companies making <\/span><b>nicotine replacement therapies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, profiting from both addiction and treatment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>National Legislation<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>C<\/b><b>igarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act (COTPA) 2003: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It governs different aspects of tobacco, such as production and supply, advertising and promotion, distribution and sale, as well as packaging and labeling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarette Act (PECA), 2019:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It has banned e-cigarettes in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tobacco Taxation:<\/b><b> I<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ndia taxes tobacco heavily, <\/span><b>with cigarettes at 53% of retail price<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Bidis, a cheaper option, are taxed much lower at 16%.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>WHO\u2019S Initiatives to reduce Tobacco Use<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>WHO\u2019s MPOWER initiative includes six measures:<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">M: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">P: Protect people from tobacco smoke.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">O: Offer help to quit tobacco use.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W: Warn about the dangers of tobacco.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">E: Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">R: Raise taxes on tobacco products.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Global Treaty on Tobacco Control adopted in 2003, the<\/span><b> FCTC is the world\u2019s first public health treaty <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to reduce tobacco consumption and its health impacts through legal and policy measures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>2024 WHO Cessation Guidelines: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0WHO recommends supervised <\/span><b>nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), behavioural counselling<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>use of non-nicotine medicines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like<\/span><b> cytisine, bupropion, and varenicline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for effective cessation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Ways to Implement\u00a0 a Comprehensive Ban<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Taxation Strategy: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase tobacco taxes above income growth; align with WHO\u2019s 75% MRP recommendation to reduce affordability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ban Single Sticks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> : Prohibit single-stick sales to reinforce packaging warnings and curb impulse buying.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ban Flavoured and Recreational Nicotine Products: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strictly regulate or ban flavoured pouches and gums not meant for cessation, especially those targeting youth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthen Online Regulation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mandate age verification and restrict e-commerce sales of nicotine products.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Invest in Cessation Infrastructure: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expand quitlines, train providers, and subsidise WHO-recommended medications for sustainable, science-based cessation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Enforce COTPA and Plain Packaging: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement Section 5 of COTPA to stop surrogate advertising and introduce plain packaging with strong health warnings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tobacco addiction in India is evolving with industry tactics. Combating this threat requires multi-sectoral coordination, aggressive regulation, and public health prioritisation to secure a tobacco-free future.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Also Read<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Editorials<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/daily-current-affairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Daily Current Affairs<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/quiz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Current Affairs Quiz<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Daily Main Answer Writing<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-previous-year-papers?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Previous+Year+Papers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out Previous Years Papers From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-test-series-courses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>UPSC Test Series<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 49.797%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/b><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 61.393%; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-modules?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Modules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Check Out UPSC Modules From PW Store<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India now ranks first globally in male cancer incidence and mortality, driven by high tobacco use and rising affordability of harmful products.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":167649,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"paper-wise":[2084],"subject":[4632],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/167784"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/current-affairs"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167784"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/167784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":167790,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/current-affairs\/167784\/revisions\/167790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/167649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167784"},{"taxonomy":"paper-wise","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/paper-wise?post=167784"},{"taxonomy":"subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject?post=167784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}