World No Tobacco Day 2025: Experts Unite Against Tobacco as a Leading Cause of Cancer and Chronic Diseases
New Delhi [India], May 31: On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, observed every year on May 31, leading healthcare experts across the country are sounding a clarion call against one of the biggest threats to global health: tobacco. Beyond awareness, experts are demanding urgent action, highlighting tobacco’s devastating and far-reaching effects — from cancer, respiratory, and cardiovascular disease to infertility and second-hand smoke exposure.
India currently faces over 37.5 lakh active cancer cases, and tobacco remains the single largest preventable cause. According to a global study published in The Lancet’s eClinical Medicine, tobacco-related illnesses cause over 1.3 million cancer-related deaths annually across seven countries, including India.
“Smoking is one of the worst carcino...