Union Ministry Launches Fourth Edition of Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shri Prataprao Jadhav launched the fourth edition of the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign (TFYC 4.0) on October 28, 2026, at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi. The 60-day nationwide campaign, organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, aims to prevent tobacco initiation among young people, encourage tobacco cessation, strengthen enforcement of tobacco control laws, and promote tobacco-free environments across India.
The campaign builds on the achievements of three previous editions conducted since 2023. The first edition in May 2023 resulted in 1,42,184 educational institutions and 12,000 villages declared tobacco-free, with enforcement fines exceeding ₹1 crore. The second edition in September 2024 expanded to 1,67,762 educational institutions and 27,534 villages declared tobacco-free, with fines exceeding ₹1.1 crore. The third edition in October 2025 achieved 2,57,807 educational institutions and 33,850 villages declared tobacco-free, along with 58,000 enforcement drives leading to 1,45,477 challans under Section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and training of over 60,000 enforcement personnel and tobacco cessation counsellors.
TFYC 4.0 introduces a special focus on Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), with universities and colleges being encouraged to establish tobacco-free campuses and promote student-led awareness activities. The campaign will be implemented through six key strategies: intensifying public awareness about tobacco harms, strengthening Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions guidelines, expanding Tobacco-Free Villages initiative, strengthening enforcement of COTPA 2003 and Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019, leveraging social media and digital platforms, and engaging universities and colleges specifically.
The campaign adopts a whole-of-government approach involving coordination with multiple central ministries including Education, Electronics and Information Technology, Information and Broadcasting, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, Tribal Affairs, Finance, Home Affairs, Corporate Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Social Justice and Empowerment. States and Union Territories, enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and local administrations will be central to implementation efforts.
Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized that addiction-free youth are essential for realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat, noting that the country's progress depends on the health and well-being of its young population. The launch event featured participation from over 300 people including government officials, healthcare professionals, students, development partners, and media representatives, along with educational videos and a patient testimony under the Voice of Tobacco Victim initiative.
The Ministry has called for mass participation from all stakeholders to make 'Say No to Tobacco' a nationwide movement, encouraging awareness activities, enforcement strengthening, and community engagement across all states and union territories.