Now, chewing tobacco outstrips smoking in India
The World Health Organization's latest figures, released on Friday, said while 33% adult Indian males and 18.4% adult Indian females use smokeless tobacco, the corresponding figure for those taking a puff stands at 24.3% and 2.9% males and females, respectively. Among the youth, 19% males and 8.3% females use some form of tobacco.

The WHO's report on the "global tobacco epidemic 2011" finds that tobacco will kill nearly six million people this year worldwide. More than five million will be users and those addicted to tobacco but have since given up. And, the rest will perish for being exposed to tobacco smoke.