Explainer: A Lok Sabha MP was caught vaping. Is it legal to do so? | Today News
An MP vaping in Parliament sparked questions about India's vaping laws, which ban sales but have a grey area regarding personal use.Summary
A recent incident involving a Lok Sabha MP allegedly vaping within Parliament has brought India’s laws surrounding e-cigarettes and vaping into focus. While the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (PECA) Act of 2019 bans the production, import, sale, and advertising of these devices, it does not explicitly criminalize their use or possession. This ambiguity has led to debate about whether the MP committed a crime. Despite the ban on sales, a significant illegal market for vapes exists in India, estimated to be worth $20-30 billion. The health ministry clarified in October 2023 that possession is also a violation of PECA, arguing it’s implicitly banned as obtaining the device itself requires violating the law. However, enforcement remains limited, with only 384 cases recorded between 2021 and 2025.
(Source：Mint)
