The prohibition was made possible after the Indian Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal against the ban by cigarette firms and a hotel lobby group.
India has over 120 million nicotine addicts. Indian Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the purpose of the ban is to reduce the number of cigarette smokers and protect non-smokers from being exposed to second-hand smoke.
Smoking claims about 900,000 Indian lives annually. According to Ramadoss, the number is expected to climb up to one million by 2010, which he hopes to avert through the smoking ban on public places.
No smoking notices have been placed prominently in office buildings, restaurants and hotels in India's capital city. Violators of the ban will be fined 200 rupees ($4.50).
