Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is one of the factors responsible for the growth of unhealthy tobacco consumption. The World Health Organization’s MPOWER technical package on tobacco control, and the international treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, recommend bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. In India, Section 5 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act prohibits all direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco products and activity that may promote the use of tobacco products or any trademark or brand name of tobacco products.

Yet, tobacco marketing continues, globally and in India, including through online forums that are less well regulated.1 In addition, “corporate political activity”—attempts by corporations to influence policy to promote tobacco products—has been well documented internationally as a means of promoting tobacco.2,3 Vital Strategies launched the Tobacco Enforcement and Reporting Movement or TERM in June, 2019 to monitor tobacco marketing activities in India, as observed and reported online, and including those related to e-cigarettes and other non-traditional products. This situation report is part of a monthly series that summarizes observed instances of online tobacco marketing in India.