Loading…
The Department of Consumer Affairs notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 on 10 September 2026; they replace the 2020 Rules from 1 January 2027.
Platforms advertising a discount must also display the 'prior price' - defined as the lowest price at which the item was offered in the preceding 30 days.
Manipulation of search results that misleads users or reduces relevance to a query is barred, and paid or sponsored listings must be clearly and prominently labelled.
E-commerce entities must follow the 2023 dark patterns guidelines, conduct an annual self-audit and display a compliance certificate prominently.
Use of consumer information without explicit consent is barred, as are bundled fees for unrelated services, from 1 January 2027.
The parent statute. It replaced the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, created the Central Consumer Protection Authority and provides the rule-making power under which e-commerce rules are framed.
The framework being amended; it first brought online marketplaces, sellers and service providers under specific consumer-protection duties.
Notified 10 September 2026, effective 1 January 2027. Adds prior-price disclosure, search-ranking and sponsored-listing obligations, consent requirements and a bar on bundled fees for unrelated services.
Compliance made mandatory under the amendment, along with an annual self-audit and display of a compliance certificate.
Notified the amendment rules; the nodal department for consumer protection policy, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Regulator established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to act against unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements and violations of consumer rights, including dark patterns
Pre-litigation grievance redressal platform of the Department of Consumer Affairs; it received 17,71,622 grievances in 2025, of which 29% concerned e-commerce
Deceptive design choices in a digital interface that push a user towards a decision they would not otherwise make - false urgency, forced action, basket sneaking, confirm-shaming, subscription traps and disguised advertisements.
Simple Analogy: A shop aisle deliberately laid out so you cannot find the exit.
GS Paper II > Government policies and interventions; GS Paper III > Indian economy - regulation of digital markets
General Awareness > Regulatory and consumer-protection developments
General Awareness > Current Affairs, Acts and Rules
The lowest price at which an item was offered during the 30 days before a discount is announced; it must be displayed alongside the reduced price
Deceptive interface design that manipulates consumer choice; regulated by 2023 guidelines now made binding on e-commerce entities
A paid placement in search or browse results, which must be clearly and prominently labelled as distinct from organic results
A digital platform connecting buyers and sellers without necessarily owning the goods sold