On World No Tobacco Day 2026, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava launched the pilot version of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Application at a national event held under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) at Kartavya Bhawan.

The initiative reflects India's commitment to protecting current and future generations from the health, social, economic and environmental impacts of tobacco and nicotine addiction.

ToFEI is a digital platform developed to enhance implementation and monitoring of tobacco-free norms in schools and colleges nationwide. Designed to enable self-assessment and reporting by educational institutions, the application supports compliance monitoring with ToFEI guidelines, enforcement of tobacco control signage, prohibition of tobacco sales within 100 yards of schools and colleges, and awareness activities targeted at students and teachers. It aims to strengthen tobacco-free campus measures through standardised monitoring, reporting and compliance assessment mechanisms.

The pilot phase will be conducted in Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Maharashtra to evaluate operational feasibility, improve implementation and reporting procedures, and guide further expansion across India. In addition, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Sample Collection of Tobacco Products, intended to bolster surveillance, regulatory compliance and quality assurance for tobacco products. The SOP establishes standardised protocols for sample collection, handling, storage, transportation and documentation to ensure consistent and reliable testing.

Addressing attendees, Ms Srivastava noted that the 2026 World No Tobacco Day theme, "Unmasking the Appeal - Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction," is pertinent to efforts to protect young people from tobacco's harmful effects. She observed that tobacco and nicotine products are often marketed in ways designed to appeal to youth through flavours, packaging, surrogate advertising and portrayals on social media and digital platforms. "Such strategies can create a misleading perception around tobacco and nicotine use," she said, emphasising the need to raise awareness among young people to encourage vigilance and refusal of tobacco consumption.

Ms Srivastava described the two initiatives launched as key components of the Government's comprehensive tobacco control strategy. Regarding the new SOP, she highlighted the importance of robust regulatory and enforcement mechanisms, stating, "Scientific sample collection, proper testing procedures and maintenance of the integrity of the entire chain are essential for ensuring effective enforcement and regulatory action." The SOP will standardise procedures and assist States and implementing agencies in enhancing compliance efforts.

On the ToFEI Application, she highlighted that over 2,000 Tobacco Cessation Centres are currently operational in district hospitals, medical and dental colleges, AYUSH institutions, NCD clinics and other healthcare facilities nationwide. She stressed the significance of encouraging educational institutions to implement and sustain tobacco-free practices, urging stakeholders to actively use the application and provide feedback during the pilot stage to strengthen the initiative.

The Union Health Secretary further remarked that tobacco use contributes significantly to cancers, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic respiratory illnesses and several other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which constitute a major share of mortality and disability in India. She commended the efforts of States, Union Territories, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, enforcement officials, civil society organisations and community workers in advancing tobacco control, calling for continued vigilance and cooperation to protect future generations.