Lok Sabha Question No. 4474 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Selling Pakistani Flags and Goods
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Dileshwar Kamait

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4474

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## SELLING PAKISTANI FLAGS AND GOODS

## 4474.  SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether notices were issued to e-commerce platforms for selling Pakistani flags and goods;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon;
- (c) whether  the  Confederation  of  All  India  Traders  (CAIT)  have  filed  the  complaint  under  "Operation Sindoor"  which  led  to  this  action  and  if  so,  the  main  concerns  of  CAIT  along  with  the  response received from these platform;
- (d) the steps being taken by Government to prevent such listings in future;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to introduce stricter guidelines for online market places to prevent the sale of items that hurt national sentiments; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) to (f)  : Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  is  continuously  working  for  consumer  protection  and empowerment  of  all  consumers  by  enactment  of  progressive  legislations.  With  a  view  to  modernize  the framework  governing  the  consumer  protection  in  the  new  era  of  globalization,  technologies,  e-commerce markets etc. Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was repealed and Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was enacted.

Salient features of the new Consumer Protection Act, 2019 are establishment of a Central Consumer Protection Authority(CCPA); simplification of the adjudication process in the Consumer Commissions such as  enhancing  pecuniary  jurisdiction  of  the  Consumer  Commissions,  online  filing  of  complaint  from  the Consumer Commission having jurisdiction over the place of work/residence of the consumer irrespective of the place of transaction, videoconferencing for hearing, deemed admissibility of complaints if admissibility is not decided within 21 days of filing; provision of product liability; penal provisions for manufacture/sale of adulterated products/spurious goods; provision for making rules for prevention of unfair trade practice in ecommerce and direct selling.

To safeguard the interests of consumers from unfair trade practices in e-commerce, the Department of Consumer Affairs has notified the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. 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 consumer grievance redressal.

Under  the  provisions  of  the  Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019,  the  Central  Consumer  Protection Authority  (CCPA),  an  executive  agency,  came  into  existence  on  24.07.2020.  The  Central  Consumer Protection  Authority  (CCPA),  established  under  Section  10  of  the  Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019,  is empowered  to  act  against  violations  of  consumer  rights,  including  unfair  trade  practices  and  misleading advertisements. It is designed to intervene, to prevent consumer detriment arising from unfair trade practices and to initiate class action(s), including the enforcement of recalls, refunds and return of products. Its core mandate is  to  prevent  and  regulate  false  or  misleading  advertisements  which  are  prejudicial  to  the  public interest.

The CCPA has already issued the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022 (on 9th June, 2022), the Guidelines for  Prevention  and  Regulation  of  Dark  Patterns,  2023  (on  30th  November,  2023),  the  Guidelines  for Prevention  and  Regulation  of  Greenwashing  and  Misleading  Environmental  Claims,  2024  (effective  15th October 2024) and the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, 2024 (effective 13th November 2024).

As per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, 'injury' as defined under Section 2(23) means any harm whatever illegally caused to any person, in body, mind or property. Further, 'deficiency' as defined under Section 2(11) includes any act of negligence or omission or commission by such person which causes loss or injury to the consumer. Furthermore, 'unfair trade practice' as defined under Section 2(47) a trade practice which, for the purpose of promoting the sale, use or supply of any goods or for the provision of any service, adopts any unfair method or unfair or deceptive practice including refusing, after selling goods or rendering services, to take back or withdraw defective goods or to withdraw or discontinue deficient services.

CCPA,  under  Section  19  of  the  Consumer  Protection  Act,  is  empowered  to,  upon  receiving  any information, complaint or directions from the Central Government, or on its own motion, conduct or cause to be  conducted  a  preliminary  inquiry  to  determine  whether  there  exists  a  prima  facie  case  of  violation  of consumer  rights,  unfair  trade  practices  or  false  or  misleading  advertisements  by  any  person,  which  is prejudicial to the public interest or the interests of consumers. If satisfied that such a prima facie case exists, the CCPA shall direct an investigation to be carried out by the Director-General or the District Collector.

******