Karnataka recorded highest number of challans followed by Rajasthan, Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand

NEW DELHI: More than 5.7 lakh people were fined for smoking in public across India in 2025-26, with authorities collecting over Rs 5.1 crore in penalties under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha. The figures, however, revealed wide variations in enforcement, with several states reporting no violations or fines during the year.

Anuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.