The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized Rajasthan for its remarkable success in the field of tobacco control and public health awareness campaigns by awarding it the prestigious ‘World No Tobacco Day Award 2026’.
The award was presented for the tremendous efforts made by the state of Rajasthan in tobacco control during 2025–26, which included the enhancement of tobacco cessation services and tobacco control awareness building initiatives across the state. Rajasthan has been declared as the best implementing state among all the states in the WHO South-East Asia region for tobacco control and public health policies.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma hailed the recognition as a “big achievement” for the state and attributed it to the government’s steadfast efforts in establishing a “Tobacco-Free Rajasthan”. He said that awareness campaigns, treatment centres, and tougher enforcement of anti-tobacco laws are being undertaken continuously to keep youth and general population away from harmful effects of tobacco.
State Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said, “Rajasthan has become a model state in the country in tobacco control. Over 500 tobacco cessation and counselling centres are operational in the state, at the block level, with digital geo tagging making it easy for citizens to find centres nearby, according to officials.
In addition, the government has stepped up its efforts for compliance with the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 and has enacted the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019. More than 60,000 anti-tobacco messages were shared via social media channels; and tobacco-free school policies were adopted in more than 83,000 schools.
Additionally, almost 2.55 lakh awareness sessions such as rallies, street plays and competitions, were conducted across the state while special awareness programmes were also held in rural areas under the Tobacco-Free Village programme.