Read articles from India

August 04, 2026 by worldvapersalliance.com

India’s tobacco burden remains enormous, yet people who vape continue to face punishment instead of proportionate policy. Criminalising or heavily restricting lower-risk alternatives does not make nicotine demand disappear; it narrows the legal routes away from combustible tobacco. A country with high tobacco use needs more harm reduction, not fewer options for adults trying to reduce risk. Public health should focus on moving people away from the deadliest products, not penalising those who choose a safer path.

July 30, 2026 by daily-pouch.com

The skin-healing question sits in a wider clinical grey area: what should patients be told when the evidence is still developing? Vaping should not be presented as harmless, but neither should it be discussed as though it carries the same exposure profile as smoking. For wound recovery, surgery and tissue repair, the useful message is precision: identify possible risks, explain uncertainty, and keep combustion in a separate risk category. Clinical advice is strongest when it helps people understand degrees of harm, not just avoid nuance.

July 14, 2026 by tribuneindia.com

There is a difference between telling people to stop smoking and giving them a route that works. Safer nicotine alternatives may not fit the traditional idea of quitting, but they can still reduce exposure to the smoke that causes most tobacco-related disease. For adults who continue to smoke, that difference matters. Harm reduction is about progress that people can actually achieve.

June 09, 2026 by moneycontrol.com

Insurance rules often treat vaping the same as smoking, even when the health risks are not equivalent. In India, insurers may classify anyone using nicotine, including e-cigarettes or e-hookah, as a smoker when assessing health or life cover. This approach raises important questions about whether financial systems are recognising relative risk — or simply grouping all nicotine use into one high-risk category. More accurate risk assessment should reflect the difference between combustible tobacco and lower-risk nicotine alternatives.

May 29, 2026 by 2firsts.com

The transition to a new nicotine era is raising complex questions for tobacco-growing communities, particularly in countries where farming livelihoods remain closely tied to combustible tobacco markets. Indian farmers face structural barriers to diversification, including limited access to alternative crops, market uncertainty, debt pressures and dependence on established tobacco supply chains. The debate highlights that tobacco harm reduction and tobacco control policy cannot focus only on consumers, but must also consider the economic realities of producers. A sustainable shift away from smoking-related harm will require evidence-based regulation, viable agricultural transition pathways and policies that support farmers rather than leaving them behind.

April 24, 2026 by planetofthevapes.co.uk

Concerns over public health policies are intensifying as critics question the direction of nicotine regulation. A controversial report has been accused of misrepresenting scientific evidence on nicotine and its effects. Experts argue that key claims—such as equating vaping with smoking risks—are unsupported or misleading. The debate highlights tensions between regulatory approaches and harm reduction strategies, particularly in Europe. At its core lies a broader question of whether current policies are driven by evidence or ideology.

April 17, 2026 by indiatimes.com

India's drug advisory body suggests limiting available nicotine replacement therapies, raising concerns about hindering smokers' efforts to quit. This move complicates access to quitting aids, potentially impacting public health initiatives, as tobacco products remain widely accessible. The recommendation aims to restrict most over-the-counter nicotine products, with exemptions only for specific items. While these aids can help manage addiction symptoms, experts stress the importance of medical supervision due to nicotine's health risks. Concerns persist about hindrances to quitting attempts, contrasting with the widespread availability of tobacco products. The debate continues on regulating nicotine products for cessation aid support.

February 11, 2026 by reuters.com

India has decided not to ease its ban on e-cigarettes, including heat-not-burn tobacco products, rejecting a long-standing lobbying effort by Philip Morris International to allow such devices. The country implemented this ban in 2019. India is the seventh-largest cigarette market in the world, selling over 100 billion cigarettes annually, and tobacco use causes more than a million deaths each year. Philip Morris, the world's most valuable tobacco company, had aimed to make India a significant market for its IQOS heated tobacco device, which the company claims is less harmful than traditional smoking.

February 10, 2026 by financialexpress.com

Despite the ban, vaping products are widely available in local markets and online. Vapes are seen as a 'cool' choice by many, particularly the younger generation. The ban, ineffective and circumvented, led to a flourishing black market. The ban lacks robust enforcement and is criticized by experts, who suggest a UK-like model. Vapes are considered a safer alternative to traditional tobacco, but health risks remain. The ban's impact on reducing tobacco consumption in India has been questioned. Enforcement of the ban is inconsistent, leading to widespread availability of vapes, particularly through the black market.

January 06, 2026 by freepressjournal.in

The vaping ban, ineffective in practice, has led to a surge in smuggling of e-cigarettes into India, contributing to health risks and substance abuse concerns among youths. The ban, aiming to protect teenagers, has inadvertently made vapes more accessible, with loopholes exploited by smugglers. Experts note the dangers of unregulated vaping, highlighting risks of addiction and health issues. While vaping is considered less harmful than smoking in some countries, its uncontrolled spread in India raises alarms. Despite regulations, vaping products are openly sold online, fueling a growing market worth $2.2 billion. Addressing these issues through public awareness campaigns is crucial, given the lax enforcement and the significant number of cigarette smokers in the country.