No, vaping indoors in India is prohibited under multiple overlapping regulations, including the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, and state-level COTPA amendments. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) classifies e-cigarettes as unapproved drugs, while municipal bodies like the Delhi Pollution Control Committee enforce indoor air quality norms that implicitly ban vaping in public spaces. Recent 2026 compliance directives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare further tighten enforcement, treating violations as cognizable offenses under IPC Section 268.
Key Regulations for Vaping Indoors in India
- Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019: Bans production, import, sale, and advertisement of e-cigarettes nationwide, effectively criminalizing indoor use under Section 4. Violations attract imprisonment up to 1 year or fines up to ₹1 lakh.
- Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003: Amended by states like Maharashtra and Karnataka to include e-cigarettes in “tobacco products,” prohibiting use in public places, workplaces, and transport per Section 4. Penalties include fines up to ₹200 for first offenses.
- State-Specific Notifications: The Delhi Government’s 2025 Health Advisory explicitly designates vaping as a public health nuisance, empowering local authorities to seize devices and impose additional penalties under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act.