India’s top policy think tank is calling for a review of the country’s vape ban amid growing evidence of illicit use among young people.
“India’s ban on e-cigarettes may have slowed uptake, but rising illicit use among youth demands urgent policy and public health attention,” said Nimisha Chadha of the Observer Research Foundation’s Centre for New Economic Diplomacy.
Illegal vape channels continue despite ban
Despite the nationwide ban on all vapes imposed in 2019, consumption via illegal channels persists, particularly in urban areas. “Among young adults aged 18 to 30 with tertiary education, 23 percent reported having used e-cigarettes,” Chadha said, highlighting a substantial underground market.
The Indian vape market was valued at approximately US$2.2 billion (€2.02 billion) in 2024 and is projected to reach US$3.4 billion (€3.13 billion) by 2033.
Experts warn the illicit trade poses serious risks. “Given India’s ongoing challenges with the illegal ENDS market, policy may need to evolve – tightening enforcement or considering a regulated framework – to mitigate the risks posed by poor-quality products with harmful additives,” Chadha said.
Tackling the tobacco burden
The call for policy change is underscored by India’s broader tobacco burden. As of 2022, over 267 million adults in India used tobacco, causing 1.35 million deaths annually and costing the country US$27.5 billion (€25.3 billion) in health costs in 2017–18, accounting for 5.3 percent of total health expenditure.
Meanwhile, excise tax from tobacco covers only 12.2 percent of its economic cost. “Reducing the tobacco burden is therefore a national priority,” Chadha said.
While quitting all forms of tobacco is ideal, many struggle with addiction. Evidence from other countries shows that, when properly regulated, vaping can provide relatively safer alternatives for smokers who have not succeeded with other nicotine replacement therapies.
“In the UK, ENDS are being regulated and licensed as medicinal quit aids, while the US FDA provides authorisation based on rigorous toxicology studies,” Chadha said.
Protecting youth while supporting smokers
Unregulated products continue to threaten youth and non-smokers. “Illicit and unregulated products exacerbate these risks,” Chadha said.
“At the same time, India must explore pathways to support smokers who may benefit from relatively safer alternatives, requiring evidence-informed policy to protect public health in an evolving nicotine landscape.”
India is not the only country to experience unintended negative consequences from a total vape ban. Australia’s strict ban on nicotine vapes has also led to a boom in illicit trade.
The prohibition has fueled a booming black market, with reports of more than 220 firebombings of tobacco shops as criminal gangs fight for control.
Experts warn that people buying unregulated vapes risk exposure to dangerous additives and counterfeit devices, underlining the limitations of outright bans.
