Lok Sabha Question No. 223 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-01
Subject: CCI Green Channel filings
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 223

ANSWERED on MONDAY, 01   December, 2025/AGRAHAYANA 10, 1947 (SAKA)

## CCI GREEN CHANNEL FILINGS

223. Dr. Shashi Tharoor:

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  percentage  of  green  channel  filings  before  the  CCI reduced  from  2021  to  2024  according  to  the  annual  report  for financial Year 2023-24;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor, if assessed by the Government;
- (c) whether CCI has opted for a strict interpretation of green channel rules where they reject the applicability of the green channel route in  non-problematic transactions where the parties had minimal or technical  overlaps  and  whether  this  strict  interpretation  is  the reason for a reduction in green channel filings;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  changes  in  green  channel  rules  made  in  September 2024, which consider the Ultimate Controlling Persons (UCP) of the acquirer group for mapping overlaps with the target(s) to qualify for a green channel filing, would further reduce green channel filings; and
- (f)
- if so, the steps taken by the Government to overcome this hurdle?

## 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): The number of Green Channel filings as a percentage of total combination notice filings from 2020-2021 and 2023-2024 are as under:

| Financial Year   |   No of Green Channel Filings | % of Green Channel filings   |
|------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------|
| 2020-21          |                            17 | 19%                          |
| 2021-22          |                            24 | 27%                          |
| 2022-23          |                            25 | 25%                          |
| 2023-24          |                            25 | 22%                          |

The  number  of  Green  Channel  filings as a percentage  of total combination  notice  filing  during  the  Financial  Years  2020-2021  and 2023 -2024 has increased from 19% to 22%. (c) & (d)  Green Channel is an automatic system of approval, which is available  to  only  those  mergers,  amalgamations  and  acquisitions (combinations) where there are no business overlaps of any kind, be it horizontal, vertical or complementary in nature, between the parties to combination.  The  provisions  for  Green  Channel  are  provided  under Section 6(4) and 6(5) of the Competition Act, 2002 (Act) read with the Competition  (Criteria  of  Combination)  Rules,  2024  (Green  Channel Rules).  Accordingly,  the  Commission  assesses  the  applicability  of Green Channel Filings as per the extant provisions of the Act and rules

/ regulations thereunder.

(e)&(f):  The  Commission  has  been  identifying/mapping  overlaps  in combination cases including the cases filed under Green Channel route considering Ultimate Controlling Person (UCP) on a case-to-case basis even  prior  to  September  2024.  The  introduction  of  UCP  in  Green Channel  Rules  i.e.  The  Competition  (Criteria  of  Combination)  Rules, 2024 alongwith the related frequently asked questions(FAQs)published in the website of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) (https://www.cci.gov.in/images/publications\_booklet/en/faqs-on-combinationsenglish1747725949.pdf),provides greater clarity and consistency, thereby facilitating stakeholders in assessing overlaps.

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