Cigarette production declined in Apr, May, June: Govt

The production of cigarettes has declined in the country in the first three months of the current fiscal over the year ago period, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
However, according to a WHO report on Global Tobacco Epidemic (2015), the cigarettes have become cheaper in India between 2008-2014, Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply.
"As per the information provided by Finance Ministry, the production data of the first three months of 2015-16 fiscal year indicates that the production of cigarettes of all lengths has declined over the corresponding period of 2014-15.
"However, decline in production of cigarettes of shorter length (not exceeding 65 mm) is less than the decline in overall production of cigarettes," Nadda said.

The government noted that there is no data to indicate that the incidence of smoking has gone up in the recent years.
Nadda said to counter the practice, in budget 2014-15, excise duty on cigarettes was increased by 17 per cent to 72 per cent for different lengths.
"In the budget of 2015-16, excise duty rate on cigarettes was further increased by 15 per cent to 25 per cent for various lengths," he said.
"Meanwhile, there no such data to indicate that the incidence of smoking has gone up in recent years," he added.