Global Industry Interference Index 2020 India Overall score: 61

4. Unnecessary interaction Summary of Findings Non-CSR interactions, partnerships and collaborations between the and 1. Industry participation in policy development the government exist: (a) the tobacco industry is closely involved with the state’s anti-smuggling There were a high number of letters, proposals and imperatives and implementation drives, (b) the appeals that were made to the central and state ways in which the tobacco industry uses its governments by tobacco industry bodies arguing subsidiary wings to gain legitimacy for seeking for a reconsideration on the ban of electronic the support from the government, specifically in nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products. agriculture and trade policy, and (c) nationalized However, the government did not accept any of banks and insurance companies’ stakes in the those recommendations. tobacco industry are reported. 2. Industry CSR activities 5. Transparency A number of government and tobacco industry There is no publicly available record of disclosure partnerships for development activities were of meetings/interactions between the government reported, especially along the lines of urban and the tobacco industry, nor a policy, if such development, innovation in sustainable disclosures were made. There is no national law agriculture, health and education. There were also in India that demands and requires that the instances of various tobacco industries engaging government ought to disclose meetings or its in CSR that directly fit into the welfare policies of interactions with the tobacco industry. the government. 6. Conflict of interest 3. Benefits to the industry The state engages with the tobacco industry in The tobacco industry continues to receive a anti-smuggling activity through an industry trade number of benefits and incentives from the body. Aspects of the state—specifically, a couple government, such as: (a) ongoing exemptions of nationalized insurance companies—have a on cess (on top of Goods and Services Tax [GST]) significant number of shares in a major tobacco on bidis, and exemption from GST for smaller company. Moreover, a member of the tobacco industry manufacturers, (b) support from the Tobacco also sits on the board of the Tobacco Board, which is Board, which is part of the Ministry of Commerce part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. and Industry, and the Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI)—which comes under the Indian 7. Preventive measures Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)—in In terms of preventing the tobacco industry from technical improvements in tobacco agricultural interfering with policy, it is noted that while there production and promotion of efficiency, and (c) is yet to be a policy in line with WHO Framework promotion from the Government to tobacco Convention on (FCTC) Article manufacturers to help boost their marketability in 5.3 at the national-level there, several state-level the international market. governments and district administrations have adopted such a policy aiming to prevent tobacco industry interference. Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2020

A number of government Recommendations “and tobacco industry partnerships for A nation-wide policy in line with FCTC Article 5.3 is needed to prevent tobacco industry interference in development activities public policy and policy implementation concerning were reported, especially tobacco control. along the lines of urban development, innovation in sustainable agriculture, health and education. ”