National tobacco research is undergoing significant transformation as public health concerns, regulatory pressures, and scientific advancements shape the field (van der Eijk, 2015). Emerging trends reflect a growing emphasis on tobacco control, harm reduction, and the effects of new nicotine delivery systems such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (O'Connor et al., 2022). Key research areas now focus on the health impacts of tobacco use, the social and economic factors influencing smoking behavior, and effective cessation strategies. Environmental tobacco smoke, youth-targeted marketing, and national disparities in tobacco-related harm are also critical areas of inquiry. Influential publications in this domain, such as “Tobacco Control,” “Nicotine and Tobacco Research,” and reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), provide cutting-edge insights, guiding policy and public health interventions (Joseph et al., 2021). As tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable deaths nationally, ongoing research is crucial for shaping effective, evidence-based responses to this pressing health challenge (John, 2005; Mishra et al., 2012; Services et al., 2014; Nazar et al., 2020; Shaikh et al., 2022; Pahari et al., 2023). Research in national tobacco control is essential because tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable illness and deaths worldwide. Understanding emerging trends, such as the rise of e-cigarettes and novel nicotine products, is critical for addressing their potential health impacts and informing public policy (Tattan-Birch et al., 2024). Key research areas, including the social determinants of tobacco use, youth smoking prevention, and effective cessation strategies, help in developing interventions that can reduce the national burden of tobacco-related diseases. Moreover, influential publications and studies drive evidence-based decision-making, shaping regulations, public health campaigns, and international frameworks, such as the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC; Myers et al., 2023). By continuously advancing tobacco research, we can mitigate the immense social, economic, and health costs associated with smoking and nicotine addiction (KA et al., 1996; Warner, 2005; Lindson et al., 2017; Berg et al., 2018; Meissner et al., 2022). Despite decades of tobacco control efforts, significant gaps persist in our understanding of the evolving landscape of nicotine consumption, particularly concerning the long-term health consequences of emerging products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices. These products are often introduced with claims of harm reduction, yet empirical data on their safety profiles and potential to facilitate cessation remain inconclusive. Simultaneously, socio-cultural drivers of tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries, including India, are underexplored in the literature, despite these regions bearing a disproportionate burden of tobacco-related morbidity. This bibliometric study addresses these critical voids by mapping national tobacco research trends from 2003 to 2024, thereby highlighting not only the scientific focus on biomedical impacts but also the relative neglect of behavioral, cultural, and socio-economic determinants (Salt and Osborne, 2020). Through a systematic analysis of publication patterns, research clusters, and funding sources, the study provides an evidence-based framework for identifying overlooked areas and guiding future interdisciplinary research and policy interventions (Ribisl, 2012; Hicks et al., 2019; Claire et al., 2020; Parascandola et al., 2022; Puljević et al., 2022).

This comprehensive bibliometric analysis reveals not only the expansion of national tobacco research over the past two decades but also several critical inflection points and persistent gaps.

Similar surges in tobacco research output have been reported in other low- and middle-income countries following FCTC ratification, suggesting a globally shared impetus toward tobacco control scholarship (Warner, 2005; Berg et al., 2018). The overwhelming dominance of medical and biomedical research (e.g., medicine, biochemistry, genetics) confirms earlier findings that tobacco-related morbidity remains the central concern driving publication trends (John, 2005; Pahari et al., 2023). However, the underrepresentation of social sciences, behavioral studies, and environmental research mirrors existing literature noting a fragmented understanding of the socio-cultural contexts of tobacco use (Claire et al., 2020; Parascandola et al., 2022). This suggests an ongoing disciplinary silencing of the “lived experience” of tobacco users, especially in rural or marginalized populations. An important gap observed in the analysis is the lack of explicit focus on smokeless tobacco, which constitutes a significant portion of tobacco use in India (Pahari et al., 2023). While some publications may have jointly addressed smoking and smokeless forms, this distinction is rarely made clear in bibliometric summaries or keyword analyses (Lahoti and Dixit, 2021). Given the high burden of disease from smokeless tobacco in India, particularly oral cancers and submucous fibrosis, future research efforts should disaggregate these categories to ensure more targeted prevention strategies (Gupta and Ray, 2003; Nair et al., 2004). Additionally, this study directly responds to longstanding gaps in tobacco control scholarship by illuminating the underrepresentation of research on the long-term health impacts of novel nicotine products and the socio-cultural dimensions of tobacco use in LMICs. Our analysis reveals that, while biomedical and clinical research dominates the field, studies examining the chronic effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are notably scarce. This is concerning given their rising popularity and ambiguous public health implications. Additionally, socio-behavioral research—particularly that which explores gender, caste, rurality, and poverty as drivers of tobacco initiation and persistence—remains peripheral in India's research ecosystem. By exposing these deficits, this study advocates for a broader epistemological shift that integrates cultural anthropology, behavioral science, and qualitative methodologies into mainstream tobacco research. Such an interdisciplinary pivot is essential not only for developing context-specific interventions but also for dismantling structural inequities in research agendas and funding allocations, especially in countries most vulnerable to the tobacco epidemic. Our analysis revealed limited representation of research on second-hand smoke exposure, environmental consequences of tobacco farming, and occupational exposure—all areas flagged by international experts as underexplored yet high-priority domains (Puljević et al., 2022). For example, Claire et al. (2020) have emphasized the urgent need to examine the broader ecological impacts of tobacco agriculture and waste (Claire et al., 2020). The observed institutional dominance of Indian organizations, particularly AIIMS and the Public Health Foundation of India, reflects India's high burden of tobacco-related disease, but also underscores the limited international collaboration visible in our co-authorship networks. This is consistent with previous critiques of South Asian tobacco research as “nationally siloed,” hindering cross-border learning (Berg et al., 2018; Meissner et al., 2022). While intra-national collaborations are strong, especially among urban academic centers, there is a pressing need to extend these networks to international and rural research institutions to support a more equitable and diverse research ecosystem (Lindson et al., 2017). Although the majority of funding stems from national organizations such as CSIR and ICMR, our study also detected contributions from international agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, detailed analysis of how these funds were allocated—whether directly to Indian institutions or through collaborative projects remains limited in bibliometric databases. This gap warrants further manual tracing through funding acknowledgments in primary articles to better understand global financial engagement in India's tobacco research landscape (Meissner et al., 2022). The prominent authors identified, such as Dr. Prakash C. Gupta and Dr. Dhirendra Sinha, have not only contributed prolifically but have also shaped the field's foundational literature, particularly in epidemiological surveillance and tobacco control program evaluation (Gupta and Ray, 2003; Rani et al., 2003). It is also evident that tobacco research in the reviewed literature is predominantly conducted by male authors, suggesting a gendered dimension in the production of knowledge within this field. This male-dominated authorship may influence the research priorities and perspectives represented in the literature, potentially overlooking gender-specific nuances in tobacco use and control. Additionally, the result highlights a clear preference for quantitative methodologies, with comparatively limited engagement with qualitative approaches. This methodological imbalance may constrain a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and behavioral contexts of tobacco use, which are often better captured through qualitative inquiry. These observations warrant inclusion in the discussion section to underscore existing gaps and advocate for more inclusive and methodologically diverse research practices. Yet, the geographic clustering of these authors in urban India and the USA also reflects persistent regional disparities in research leadership and funding access, an issue echoed in previous bibliometric assessments of tobacco research in Asia (Ribisl, 2012; Shaikh et al., 2022). Journal analysis confirms the growing contribution of Indian public health journals, although publication in high-impact global journals remains limited. This may reflect not only language and resource barriers but also misalignment between international publication priorities and national health needs (KA et al., 1996). Efforts to enhance manuscript writing training and institutional support for early-career researchers could help bridge this gap. Co-citation and keyword analyses illuminate a recent methodological shift in the field. The integration of machine learning, nanotechnology, and interest in COVID-19-related respiratory impacts (Huang et al., 2024). The role of tobacco use in exacerbating COVID-19 outcomes has been explored in emerging research, which indicates that smokers and users of smokeless tobacco products may experience more severe pulmonary complications during viral infections (Claire et al., 2020). Additionally, COVID-19 heightened public and research awareness about lung health and vulnerability, further catalyzing investigations into the immunological and physiological overlap between tobacco-induced damage and viral pathogenesis. However, such findings are still in their early stages and demand more rigorous epidemiological validation. This study stands out for its novel integration of bibliometric analytics with public health priorities, offering a panoramic view of tobacco research in India from 2003 to 2024. Unlike prior research that has typically focused on isolated health outcomes or tobacco prevalence, this study distinguishes itself by mapping publication trends, institutional collaborations, keyword trajectories, and funding patterns—while also critically identifying neglected areas such as the long-term health effects of emerging nicotine products and the socio-cultural drivers of tobacco use. The potential audience includes public health researchers, policymakers, funding agencies, and global health organizations seeking to understand the evolution and direction of national tobacco control efforts. The added value lies in its ability to inform research prioritization and policy design by highlighting underrepresented themes like smokeless tobacco, rural health disparities, and gendered consumption patterns. Policy implications are profound: the study provides an empirical foundation for more equitable funding allocations, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and supports the development of context-specific tobacco control strategies that go beyond biomedical paradigms to address behavioral, environmental, and cultural determinants of use. This makes the study not only a methodological contribution to bibliometric science but also a strategic tool for shaping future public health interventions and policy frameworks. In summary, while the volume and visibility of tobacco research in India have grown considerably, the field remains medically dominated, urban-centric, and under-integrated with behavioral, environmental, and international research. Bridging these disciplinary and geographic gaps will require both structural investment and intentional collaboration strategies (Hicks et al., 2019; Claire et al., 2020; Puljević et al., 2022). In conclusion, the study reveals that tobacco research in India has expanded significantly over the past two decades, primarily driven by public health priorities and evolving nicotine product landscapes. There has been substantial output in medical and biomedical domains, reflecting concerns around tobacco-induced morbidity and mortality.

However, several critical research gaps remain.

These include:

Furthermore, the effects of tobacco use on COVID-19 outcomes require deeper investigation, particularly regarding respiratory comorbidities and differential risks among tobacco users.

Addressing these gaps requires a broader interdisciplinary approach, enhanced international partnerships, and targeted funding mechanisms that prioritize equity and underserved research areas.

There are several limitations to note in this study. Firstly, we only utilized SCOPUS as our database, which may have led to the omission of relevant papers from other databases. Secondly, there is a possibility that significant non-English papers were overlooked, resulting in research bias and a reduction in credibility. Finally, due to the constant database updates, recently published high-quality articles may have been underestimated because of their inadequate citations.