Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Experts Urge Smoke-Free Public Places as India Faces 325,000 Deaths
Second-hand smoke is smoke that people breathe when someone else uses tobacco nearby.
A study estimated that about 444 million people in India were exposed to it in 2023.
It linked this exposure to about 325,600 deaths that year.
Health experts said this smoke can hurt people who do not smoke themselves.
They highlighted risks for women and children, who may not be able to choose where they are exposed.
Smoke can reach people in public places, workplaces and homes.
Experts called for public places to be completely smoke-free, rather than having special smoking areas.
They also said India should work to prevent tobacco use and addiction, especially among young people.
A Global Burden of Disease study estimated that 325,600 deaths in India in 2023 were attributable to second-hand smoke.
About 444 million Indians were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023, according to the study.
Experts said exposure in homes, workplaces and public places can harm non-smokers, including women and children.
Speakers called for fully smoke-free public places and for moving beyond designated smoking areas.
The webinar also urged broader tobacco-control measures, including protecting children from tobacco use and addiction.
- Who
- Health experts, including V.K. Paul, Uma Kumar, V.M. Katoch and K.K. Talwar, called for stronger protection from second-hand smoke.
- What
- Experts urged India to move towards completely smoke-free public places, citing an estimated 325,600 deaths attributable to second-hand smoke in 2023.
- When
- The webinar was held on October 2; the cited study estimates relate to 2023.
- Where
- India; the webinar was held in the context of a national discussion.
- Why
- Experts said second-hand smoke harms non-smokers and that stronger protections are needed, particularly for people with limited control over their exposure.
- Estimated deaths in India
- 325,600 attributable to second-hand smoke in 2023
- People exposed
- Around 444 million Indians in 2023
- Exposure trend
- The share of India’s population exposed fell from 43% in 1990 to 31%, according to V.K. Paul
- Estimated deaths among women
- Around 150,000
- Estimated deaths among men
- Nearly 175,000
- Webinar date
- October 2, Gandhi Jayanti
- Study source
- A Global Burden of Disease study published in The Lancet Public Health
- Smoke-free rules
- India’s Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules came into force on October 2, 18 years before the webinar