You can get free help to quit tobacco in India by calling the National Tobacco Quitline on 1800-112-356, giving a missed call to 011-22901701 for the mCessation text programme, or visiting a tobacco cessation centre at a district hospital. The Health Ministry launched a 60-day Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 4.0 on 28 October 2026.
Updated 30 October 2026
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official portal | National Tobacco Control Programme, MoHFW |
| Helpline | National Tobacco Quitline 1800-112-356 (toll-free); mCessation missed call 011-22901701 |
| Fee | Free counselling on the quitline and at government cessation centres |
| Deadline | TFYC 4.0 runs for 60 days from 28 October 2026; quitline help is available any time |
| Documents | None to call; carry a doctor's prescription history if you visit a centre |
| Law | Smoking in public places banned under Section 4 of COTPA, 2003; e-cigarettes banned under PECA, 2019 |
| Related posts | Create your ABHA health ID, Ayushman card guide |
What is the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 4.0?
On 28 October 2026, Union Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav launched the fourth edition of the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign (TFYC 4.0) at RML Hospital in New Delhi. It's a 60-day nationwide drive by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Some numbers from the PIB release:
The campaign has six strategies: awareness, tobacco-free educational institutions, tobacco-free villages, enforcement of COTPA and the e-cigarette ban, social media outreach, and engaging universities.
Why is quitting worth it?
The minister noted that tobacco smoke has more than 7,000 chemicals, many of them toxic and cancer-causing. Second-hand smoke hurts your family and kids too. Nicotine at a young age affects attention, memory and learning. Chewing tobacco, gutkha and khaini are not safer. They're linked to mouth cancer, which is one of the most common cancers among Indian men.
The good part: your body starts recovering soon after you stop, and the risk of heart disease and cancer keeps dropping over the years.
How do I get free help to quit, step by step?
What if I slip?
Most people who quit for good slip once or twice. A slip doesn't mean failure. Don't throw away your quit attempt over one cigarette or one pouch. Call the quitline again, figure out what triggered it, like stress, tea breaks or friends, and plan around it.
How do I deal with cravings?
Cravings usually pass in a few minutes. Try these:
What does the law say?
If shops near a school are selling tobacco, you can complain to the local police or district administration. Schools and colleges can also apply the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution guidelines.
How can your school, college or village become tobacco-free?
TFYC 4.0 wants institutions and villages to take this up themselves. Here's how it usually works:
If your college or panchayat wants to start, the district tobacco control cell under the district health office is the place to ask. It can share material and help with the steps.
Real-life examples
Example 1, a driver in Pune. Sachin chewed gutkha for 12 years. He called 1800-112-356, got weekly follow-up calls, and switched to saunf for cravings. He's been tobacco-free for three months.
Example 2, a college student in Kolkata. Rhea started vaping in her first year. Through her college's TFYC programme, she joined mCessation and quit within six weeks.
Example 3, a farmer in Madhya Pradesh. Ramlal visited the cessation centre at his district hospital. The doctor gave him nicotine gum and counselling, and his family helped by keeping tobacco out of the house.
Your quit checklist
Final reminder
Quitting is hard, but you don't have to do it alone, and the help is free. Make the call now, and if your village or college wants to go tobacco-free under TFYC 4.0, talk to your panchayat or principal. If tobacco sales near schools in your area aren't being checked, raise it with your MLA. Find them on NetaSampark's Know Your Neta.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Tobacco Quitline number?
1800-112-356. It's toll-free and gives counselling in multiple Indian languages.
What is the mCessation number?
Give a missed call to 011-22901701 to join the free mCessation text programme. Check the number on the NTCP website before calling.
Is it free to quit tobacco with government help?
Yes. The quitline, mCessation and counselling at government cessation centres are free.
What is TFYC 4.0?
The fourth Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign, a 60-day nationwide drive launched by the Health Ministry on 28 October 2026, with a special focus on colleges and universities.
Are e-cigarettes legal in India?
No. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 bans their production, sale, import and storage.