Lok Sabha Question No. 1446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Competition Law  Reforms and Enforcement
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, Shri Anurag Sharma, Shri Tejasvi Surya, Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti, Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1446

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026

## COMPETITION LAW REFORMS AND ENFORCEMENT QUESTION

## 1446. Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab:

Shri Anurag Sharma:

Shri Tejasvi Surya:

Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti:

Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram:

## Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS  be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  major  developments  during  the  year  2025  in  competition  law enforcement, including antitrust actions and merger control oversight by the Competition Commission of India;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to operationalise recent competition law reforms, including settlement and commitment mechanisms and changes in penalty determination;
- (c) the institutional and procedural measures adopted  by the Government to improve the efficiency, transparency and timeliness of proceedings before the said Commission; and
- (d) the  objectives  and  key  competition  concerns  identified  under  the Competition Commission of India's Market Study on Artificial Intelligence and the manner in which its findings are proposed to inform future competition policy and enforcement?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) During the calendar year 2025, the Competition Commission of India ('CCI') registered 54 matters relating to anti -competitive practices/  antitrust  and  received  149  merger  (M&A)  filings.  The Commission passed final orders in 38 antitrust cases and disposed of 146 merger notices.
- (b) To operationalize recent competition law reforms, the Government of India notified various Rules and Regulations under the Competition  (Amendment)  Act,  2023.  The  details  are  placed  at Annexure.

With respect to penalty determination, the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 provided for calculation of penalty based on the  global  turnover  of  the  person  or  enterprise.  The  Competition Commission of India has notified the CCI (Determination of Monetary Penalty) Guidelines, 2024, which lay down a detailed methodology for determination of penalty.

- (c)      To  improve  the  efficiency,  transparency  and  timeliness  of proceedings before the Commission, Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 introduced forward looking reforms to reduce the time limit for approval of combinations (M&As), from 210 days to 150 days and also introduced settlement and commitment framework in the interests of faster resolution of competition cases.

Further,  the  Green  Channel  route  incorporated  under  the  Act facilitates expedited approval of combinations  through  deemed approval upon filing  of  notice  with  the  CCI,  thereby  enabling  faster resolution of competition cases.

- (d)        The  Market  Study  on  AI  and  Competition  was  undertaken  to understand key AI system and markets/ecosystems including stakeholders, essential inputs/resources, value chains, market structures and competition parameters; examine emerging competition  issues;  assess  AI  applications,  opportunities,  risks  and ramification;  understand  regulatory/  legal  frameworks  in  India  and other major jurisdictions; and ascertain the Commission's enforcement and advocacy priorities.

The Study identified key competition concerns including concentration  in  the  AI  value  chain  due  to  high  upfront  costs  and access  to  data  and  talent;  ecosystem  lock-in  and  switching  costs, risks of algorithmic collusion through AI-driven pricing algorithms and automated  business  decisions;  self-preferencing  across  the  AI  tech stack  and  AI-enabled  price  discrimination  through  use  of  consumer data.

To  promote  a  competitive  AI  ecosystem  in  India  and  protect consumer  welfare,  the  findings  include  self-audit  of  AI  systems  for competition  compliance  by  businesses;  improved  transparency  and reducing of information asymmetry; focused advocacy and capacity building  by  CCI;  continuation  of  Government  policy  initiatives;  and inter-regulatory coordination and international cooperation.

The  Competition  (Amendment)  Act,  2023  was  notified  on 11.04.2023. Pursuant to the Amendment, the following Rules have been framed under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023:

- i. The  Competition  (Form  of  Publication  of  Guideline)  Rules 2023. (GSR No. 795(E).
- ii. The Competition  (Minimum  Value  of  Assets  or  Turnover) Rules, 2024. (GSR No. 547(E).
- iii. The Competition (Criteria of Combination) Rules 2024. (GSR No. 548(E).
- iv. The  Competition  (Criteria  for  Exemption  of  Combinations) Rules 2024. (GSR No. 549(E).

In addition, all relevant Regulations under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 have been framed and notified, namely:

- ⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Lesser Penalty) Regulations, 2024
- ⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Settlement) Regulations, 2024
- ⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Commitment) Regulations, 2024
- ⮚ The Competition Commission  of India (Determination of Turnover or Income) Regulations, 2024
- ⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Combination) Regulations, 2024
- ⮚ The Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations, 2024

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