Cigarette Tax Scorecard (4th Edition): India [Fact Sheet]

This Fact Sheet was written based on the findings of the fourth edition of the Cigarette Tax Scorecard. The brief evaluates the cigarette tax policies in India. In 2024, India scored 1.5 points out of 5 overall. This is lower than the region and income group averages, which suggests that there is significant room for improvement. The overall score is an average of the following components: the cigarette price, affordability change, the tax share of the price, and the tax structure. India received the most points in the price component with 3 points. On the other hand, India scored zero points in the affordability change component. India's overall score peaked in 2016 before declining and remaining largely consistent from 2018 to 2024. This fact sheet concludes with recommendations for India's government to seize the opportunity to implement a more effective tax system, including simplifying its current complex tiered structure, to improve public health while raising tax revenues. 

View the entire Scorecard here.