The Union Cabinet today approved an ordinance to ban production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes.Briefing media in New Delhi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Cabinet gave its nod to the Promulgation of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019.

She said the decision was taken considering the impact of e-cigarettes on the youth.

A punishment of one-year imprisonment and a fine one lakh rupees has been proposed for first-time offenders.

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that produce an aerosol by heating a solution containing nicotine which is the addictive substance in combustible cigarettes.

The decision to prohibit e-cigarettes will help protect the population, especially the youth and children, from the risk of addiction through E-cigarettes.  

The Union Cabinet also approved 78-day bonus for Railway employees. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, 11.52 lakh employees, will benefit from the decision. He said this is a reward for productivity.