Increased Taxes and Regulation of Indian Cigarillos (Bidi) Industry: Effects on Revenue and Years of Life Lost.

This article focuses on the revenue and public health implications of increasing regulation and taxation on the traditional Indian cigarillo industry, known as bidis. Bidis are low-cost, hand-rolled tobacco products widely consumed in India, especially among low-income populations, but currently face low taxation and limited regulation compared to cigarettes. Using price elasticity data and consumption statistics, the study projects that aligning bidi taxes with cigarette levels or the World Health Organization–Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO–FCTC) recommendations could substantially increase government revenue while significantly reducing bidi consumption and averting millions of premature loss of life years (YLLs). The findings support phased policy reforms to enhance bidi regulation and taxation as effective tools for tobacco control and public health improvement in India.