India has banned smoking in public places in a bid to fight tobacco use.

Smoking is blamed, directly or indirectly, for a fifth of all deaths in the country, which is the world's third-largest consumer.

The ban, which includes all offices and restaurants, will hit its estimated 240 million tobacco users hard.

The ban also includes schools and colleges, pubs and discotheques, hospitals and bus stops. Offenders will be fined 200 rupees (£2.40).

The government cites the economic costs and the need to stem the loss of human lives but tobacco firms say the ban infringes on individual rights.

Everyone agrees, though, that implementing the ban could be a problem and much will depend on compliance rather than enforcement.

"Don't wait for enforcing authorities to catch you," said Anbumani Ramadoss, India's health minister who has long championed a ban on tobacco.

He also urged Bollywood actors not to encourage smoking by lighting up on screen.

But past attempts to ban spitting and urinating in public in India drew little success.

The impoverished and lawless northern state of Bihar has already expressed reservations about the practicalities of implementing the ban.

While rules limiting advertising, marketing and sales existed before, implementation was not very effective.

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