<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">The Union Cabinet today approved an ordinance to ban production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes.</span></div><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''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.<br />''<br />''She said the decision was taken considering the impact of e-cigarettes on the youth.<br />''<br />''A punishment of one-year imprisonment and a fine one lakh rupees has been proposed for first-time offenders.<br />''<br />''E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that produce an aerosol by heating a solution containing nicotine which is the addictive substance in combustible cigarettes.<br />''<br />''The decision to prohibit e-cigarettes will help protect the population, especially the youth and children, from the risk of addiction through E-cigarettes.  <br />''<br />''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.</span><br />