Himachal Pradesh on 2 July 2013 was declared as the first Smoke-free state of the country. The declaration was made in compliance to Section 4 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003. Himachal Pradesh achieved 85.42 percent compliance with the relevant parameters to be declared as the smoke-free state. To eliminate use of tobacco products in the state, taxes on bidis and cigarettes in the state was raised from 11 and 18 percent to 22 and 36 percent, respectively in the 2013-14 State Budget. Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 The Union Government armed itself with a comprehensive Act named the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (... [Read more]