According to a major study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

50% hike in cigarette prices could save 4.1m Indian lives: ADB study

A 50% increase in cigarette prices in India will save 4.1 million lives due to tobacco use as 9.6 million people will avoid taking to smoking or quit the habit altogether.

While a 100% increase in prices of cigarettes in India will avoid 8 million deaths due to tobacco consumption. According to a major study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a 50% hike in prices by India along with China, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam corresponding to a tax increase of about 70%-122% would reduce the number of current and future smokers by nearly 67 million and reduce tobacco deaths by over 27 million.

ADB also found that it willgenerate over $24 billion in additional revenue annually a 143%-178% rise over each country's current cigarette tax revenue. 

Two-thirds of the world's tobacco users live in only 15 countries, and five of these high burden

countries are in Asia. In India annually, 10 lakh deaths are attributed to tobacco alone.

It is estimated that by 2020, tobacco use will account for 13% of all deaths in India every year. Almost 35% adults (15 years and above) consume tobacco in India (47% men and 21% women).