Lok Sabha Question No. 4116 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Anti-competitive Practices by Food Delivery Companies
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Sudama Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4116

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2025/ SRAVANA 27, 1947 (SAKA)

## ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES BY FOOD DELIVERY COMPANIES QUESTION

4116. Shri Sudama Prasad:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken cognizance  of  the  News  items  "NRAI  to  sue Zomato and Swiggy for attempting to monopolise the food delivery market "appeared in 'The Times of India' dated 9 January, 2025;
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government intends to introduce regulatory measures to control such practices and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the measures taken by the Government against the anti-competitive practices by companies like Swiggy and Zomato especially which violates the regulations under the Competition Act, 2002; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS.

(SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA)

(a)&(b): As per the provisions of Section 19 of the Competition Act, 2002, (the 'Act') the Competition Commission of India (CCI) may inquire into any alleged contravention of Section 3 (prohibition of anti-competitive agreements) or Section 4 (prohibition of abuse of dominant position) either on its own motion or on-

- (i) receipt of any information, in such manner and accompanied by such fee as may be determined by regulations, from any person, consumer or their association or trade association; or
- (ii) a reference made to it by the Central Government or a State Government or a statutory authority.

The CCI examines information(s) received alleging anti-competitive practices or abuse of dominance under the Act and wherever a prima facie case is found, the matter is investigated.  Where  after  inquiry,  the  CCI  finds  that  any  agreement  referred  to  in Section 3 or an action of an enterprise in a dominant position, is in contravention of Section 3 or Section 4 as the case may be, it may pass orders including imposition of monetary penalty in terms of the provision of Section 27 of the Act.

(c): The CCI takes action to prevent practices having adverse effect on competition, to promote and sustain competition in markets, to protect the interests of consumers and to ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants in markets under the various provisions of the Competition Act, 2002. The Department of Consumer Affairs has notified the Consumer Protection (Ecommerce) Rules, 2020 under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices in e-commerce. These rules, inter-alia, outline  the  responsibilities  of  e-commerce  entities  and  specify  the  liabilities  of marketplace  and  inventory  e-commerce  entities,  including  provisions  for  customer grievance redressal. In terms of the provisions of these rules, no e-commerce entity shall (i) manipulate the price of the goods or services offered on its platform in such a manner as to gain unreasonable profit by imposing on consumers any unjustified price having regard to the prevailing market conditions, the essential nature of the good or service, any extraordinary circumstances under which the good or service is offered, and any other relevant consideration in determining whether the price charged is justified. (ii) discriminate between the consumers of the same class or make any arbitrary classification of consumers affecting their rights under the Act. These rules also provide that no e-commerce entity shall adopt any unfair trade practice, whether in the course of business on its platform or otherwise. (d)&(e):  An  information  with  regard  to  Quick-Commerce  has  been  filed  before Competition Commission of India (CCI) by an individual regarding Bundl Technologies Pvt.  Ltd,  Blink  Commerce Pvt.  Ltd  and Zepto Marketplace Pvt. Ltd for their alleged involvement in Anti-Competitive activities. The CCI examines information(s) received alleging anti-competitive practices or abuse of dominance under the Act and wherever a prima facie case is found, the matter is investigated.

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