HealthPolicy – India Expands Tobacco Control Efforts With New Education Tools
HealthPolicy – India marked World No Tobacco Day 2026 with the launch of two major initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco and nicotine use, particularly among young people. Speaking at a national programme held at Kartavya Bhawan on Friday, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava introduced the pilot version of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) application and unveiled a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for collecting tobacco product samples. The event highlighted the government’s continued efforts to create safer environments for children and adolescents while strengthening tobacco control measures across the country.
Digital Platform to Support Tobacco-Free Campuses
The newly launched ToFEI application has been developed to help schools and colleges implement tobacco-free guidelines more effectively. Through the platform, educational institutions can conduct self-assessments, submit compliance reports, monitor tobacco control measures, and track awareness activities conducted for students and staff.
The application also supports enforcement of rules that prohibit the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions. Authorities expect the digital system to improve reporting standards, increase accountability, and provide a consistent framework for monitoring compliance across states and union territories.
Pilot Rollout Across Three States
As part of its initial phase, the ToFEI application will be tested in Rajasthan, Meghalaya, and Maharashtra. Officials said the pilot programme will help evaluate operational effectiveness, identify implementation challenges, and refine reporting processes before a wider national rollout.
The government believes the trial phase will provide valuable feedback from institutions and administrators, helping improve the platform before it is expanded to additional regions.
New SOP Aims to Strengthen Regulation
Alongside the digital initiative, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a Standard Operating Procedure for tobacco product sample collection. The document outlines uniform methods for collecting, handling, storing, transporting, and documenting tobacco samples.
According to officials, standardised procedures are essential for ensuring reliable testing and maintaining the integrity of regulatory processes. The SOP is expected to assist enforcement agencies and state authorities in improving surveillance and ensuring greater compliance with tobacco-related regulations.
Focus on Protecting Young People
Addressing participants at the event, Punya Salila Srivastava said the World No Tobacco Day 2026 theme, “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” reflects the growing need to shield young people from strategies used to promote tobacco and nicotine products.
She noted that manufacturers often use attractive packaging, flavours, indirect advertising, and digital media promotion to increase the appeal of such products among youth. These approaches, she said, can create misleading impressions and make harmful products appear less risky than they are.
The Health Secretary stressed the importance of awareness programmes that help young people make informed decisions and resist tobacco and nicotine use.
Expanding Tobacco Cessation Services
Highlighting ongoing support systems, Srivastava stated that more than 2,000 Tobacco Cessation Centres are functioning across India. These facilities operate in district hospitals, medical and dental colleges, AYUSH institutions, non-communicable disease clinics, and other healthcare centres.
She encouraged educational institutions to actively adopt tobacco-free practices and participate in the ToFEI programme by sharing feedback during the pilot stage.
Health Risks and Collective Responsibility
Officials at the event reiterated that tobacco use remains a major contributor to cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory disorders, and several other non-communicable diseases. These conditions continue to account for a significant share of illness and deaths in the country.
Government representatives acknowledged the contributions of state governments, healthcare professionals, civil society groups, educational institutions, and enforcement agencies in advancing tobacco control efforts. They called for continued collaboration to safeguard future generations from nicotine and tobacco addiction.
The programme also included a No Tobacco Pledge, encouraging participants to support a healthier and tobacco-free India. An online version of the pledge has been made available through the National Tobacco Control Programme website. School students, supported by HRIDAY in New Delhi, performed a street play highlighting the dangers of tobacco consumption and nicotine dependence.