Apurva Chandra, the Union Health Secretary, has emphasized that tobacco use is extremely dangerous for public health. Speaking to the crowd at the World No Tobacco Day celebration in New Delhi on Friday, Mr. Chandra emphasized that tobacco-related illnesses in India result in 13 lakh avoidable deaths yearly, placing a heavy financial strain on the nation’s healthcare system. In order to address the pressing problem of tobacco smoking in the nation, he continued, the government is constantly moving decisively and passing legislation at the municipal, national, regional, and international levels. He went on to outline the main areas of concentration for government tobacco control measures in 2024, which include enforcing the COTPA 2003 law strictly, stepping up awareness campaigns, and establishing a smoke-free workplace.