Successfully conducted the 6th National Summit on World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the aegis of RCTC, PGIMER, Chandigarh

The 6th National Summit on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2026 was convened on 26 May 2026 on a virtual platform by the Resource Centre for Tobacco Control (RCTC), PGIMER Chandigarh, in collaboration with Vital Strategies and 16 knowledge partners. The Summit brought together more than 380 participants from 12 countries and 26 Indian states, including 32 eminent national and international experts, policymakers, researchers, clinicians, legal professionals, and civil society representatives. Organized under the theme, “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” the Summit provided a platform to deliberate on emerging tobacco industry tactics, including the use of flavours, digital marketing, influencer promotion, and novel nicotine products designed to attract consumers, particularly young people. Through multidisciplinary discussions, the Summit highlighted the need for stronger regulatory measures, evidence-based interventions, and coordinated multisectoral action to counter the evolving landscape of nicotine and tobacco addiction. The Summit featured two keynote addresses, three panel discussions, and the release of two publications. Panel I, chaired by Smt. Preeti Sudan, Former Union Health Secretary, and Dr. L. Swasthicharan, Deputy Director General, Directorate General of Health Services, and moderated by Prof. Sonu Goel, brought together seven international experts to examine global tobacco control successes under the MPOWER framework and discuss the growing threat posed by electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), heated tobacco products (HTPs), and nicotine pouches. Panel II, chaired by Dr. Rakesh Gupta and Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, highlighted the persistent gap between India’s tobacco control legislation and its implementation on the ground. Experts expressed concerns regarding the increasing use of digital marketing, surrogate advertising, and the cultural normalization of tobacco use, particularly among young people. The discussions emphasized the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms, enhanced surveillance of emerging products and promotional strategies, and sustained multisectoral efforts to safeguard public health.