Union MoS Launches Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign 4.0,

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, today launched the fourth edition of the Tobacco-Free Youth Campaign (TFYC 4.0) at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (Dr. RML) Hospital, New Delhi, calling for a nationwide people’s movement to protect young people from tobacco use and nicotine addiction.

The 60-day nationwide campaign, being undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, seeks to prevent tobacco initiation among young people, encourage tobacco cessation, strengthen enforcement of tobacco control laws and promote tobacco-free environments across the country. Building on the achievements of its previous three editions, which have seen over 5.8 lakh educational institutions and more than 73,000 villages declared tobacco-free, the fourth edition marks a significant expansion of the initiative, with universities and colleges emerging as a major focus of this year’s campaign.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Jadhav urged the country’s youth to firmly reject tobacco and other addictive substances and embrace healthy, fulfilling and addiction-free lives. He emphasised that the health and well-being of young people are central to India’s aspirations of becoming a developed nation.

Among the dignitaries present were Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Dr. Loveneesh G. Krishna, Director General of Health Services; Dr. Akhilandeswari Prasad, Director, Dr. RML Hospital; and Dr. Yvan Hutin, WHO Representative to India, along with senior officials of the Ministry.(UPDATED ON 28TH OCTOBER 2026)