India bans public smoking

India has imposed the world's biggest smoking ban by forbidding its 1.2 billion people from lighting up in public places.

Smoking in a restaurant has just been made illegal in India.

In fact you now face a 200 rupees fine - that's around four US dollars - for lighting-up anywhere in public.

India isn't the first country to ban smoking in public places but this is the world's biggest smoking ban.

In a country where a fifth of all deaths are smoking related many welcome the new law.

(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SURESH, A LOCAL, SAYING:

"This is a very good step of the government. Smoking is harmful for both, active and passive smokers. Putting a ban on it was compulsory. This is a good step that government has taken."

India has 240 million tobacco users - it's the world's third largest consumer.

This new law means they'll no longer be allowed to light up in shops, restaurants and pubs or in schools, offices and even bus stops.

Some tobacco sellers are angry.

(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SHATRUGHAN TIWARI, A CIGARETTE SELLER, SAYING:

"They should ban the manufacturing units. If you want people to stop smoking then stop the factories. By banning this you are ruining our business."

India's cigarette market is one of the few that's still growing.

And the country's top cigarette maker ITC Ltd is challenging the ban in court.

Enforcing the law may also be a problem.

Past attempts to ban spitting and urinating in public have had little success.

One poor state has already expressed reservations about implementing the ban.

Compliance rather than enforcement is likely to be the key to it's success.

Sonia Legg, Reuters.