Cigarette Price Soars to Rs 72: India Reacts to New Excise Duty Bill

• Government's Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed to curb tobacco sales.
• One cigarette's price could jump from Rs 18 to Rs 72 due to increased excise duty.
• New duties: Cigarettes (Rs 2,700-11,000/1000 sticks), chewing tobacco (100%), hookah (40%), smoking mixtures (325%).
• Mixed public reactions: some hope to quit, others predict rise in vape use or illegal sales.
• Concerns raised about potential increase in unregulated fake products due to price hike.

Why It Matters: India hikes tobacco excise duty, potentially quadrupling cigarette prices, sparking mixed public reactions.