Tobacco — India
What travelers need to know about tobacco in India. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Tobacco in India: restricted — there are real limits travelers must follow.
Smoking in any public place is banned across India under the national tobacco law (COTPA 2003). A public place is any place the public can access, such as auditoriums, hospitals, railway waiting rooms, amusement centres, restaurants, public offices, courts, schools and colleges, libraries and public transport. Hotels with 30 or more rooms, restaurants seating 30 or more and airports may set aside a separate smoking area; smoking is allowed only there. Tobacco may not be sold to anyone under 18, or anywhere within 100 yards of an educational institution. This is the national rule: rules made under the Act and several state laws add detail and can be stricter.
Smoking in a public place: fine of up to 200 rupees; the offence is compoundable (it can be settled by paying a compounding amount) and is tried summarily (COTPA 2003, s. 21). Selling tobacco to a person under 18 or near an educational institution: fine of up to 200 rupees (s. 24).
§ National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Government of India) - Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, ss. 3(l), 4, 6, 21, 24 (only later amendment: Act 38 of 2007, s. 7 warnings)Verified Sep 22, 2026