Lok Sabha Question No. 1767 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Regulation of Dark Patterns on E-Commerce Platforms
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Bastipati Nagaraju, Shri Daggumalla Prasada Rao

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1767 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## REGULATION OF DARK PATTERNS ON E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS

1767.  SHRI BASTIPATI NAGARAJU:

SHRI DAGGUMALLA PRASADA RAO:

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

- (a) whether the Government has given any timeline completing self-audit and submitting self-declaration by e-Commerce platforms to ensure that their platforms are free of dark patterns and if so, the details of the timeline/deadline given;
- (b) the details of the list of e-commerce platforms that have submitted self-declaration that their platform is not indulging in any dark patterns;
- (c) whether the Government has levied any penalties/fine for not submitting the self-declaration and if so, the list of companies penalised and amount of fine levied as on date; and
- (d) whether the Government has any plans to conduct periodical external audits to ensure that the ecommerce platforms are not indulging in dark patterns and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d)  :  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  is  continuously  working  for  protection  and  empowerment  of consumers.  The  Department  has  notified  the  Consumer  Protection  (E-commerce)  Rules,  2020  under  the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices in ecommerce. 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.

Central Consumer Protection Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 18 of the Consumer Protection  Act,  2019,  issued  'Guidelines  for  Prevention  and  Regulation  of  Dark  Patterns,  2023'  on  30th November,  2023  listing  13  specified  dark  patterns  identified  in  e-Commerce  sector.  These  include  false urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm shaming, forced action, Subscription trap, Interface Interference, Bait and switch, Drip Pricing, Disguised Advertisements, Nagging, Trick Wording, Saas Billing and Rogue Malwares.

An 'Advisory in terms of Consumer Protection Act,2019 on Self-Audit by E-Commerce Platforms for detecting the Dark Patterns on their platforms to create a fair, ethical and consumer centric digital ecosystem' was issued by  Central Consumer Protection Authority on 5 th June,2025 .

All E-Commerce platforms have been advised through the said Advisory to take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms do not engage in such deceptive and unfair trade practices which are in the nature of Dark Patterns.  Further, all E-Commerce platforms have been advised to conduct self-audits to identify dark patterns, within three months of the issue of the advisory and take necessary steps to ensure that their platforms are free from such dark patterns.  Based on the self-audit reports, the E-Commerce platforms should also give self-declarations  that  their  platform  is  not  indulging  in  any  dark  patterns,    in  order  to  ensure  fair  digital ecosystem along with building trust between consumers and e-commerce platforms.

26 leading e-commerce platforms have voluntarily submitted their self-declaration letters confirming compliance with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 and their names are enclosed as Annexure.

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ANNEXURE  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UN  STARRED QUESTION NO. 1767 FOR 10.12.2025 REGARDING 'REGULATION OF DARK PATTERNS ON E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS'.

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The platforms that have submitted declarations are:

- (i) Page Industries Private Limited (JOCKEY)

- (ii) WILLIAM PENN Private Limited

- (iii) Axelia Solutions Pvt. Ltd.( "Pharmeasy")

- (iv) Zepto Marketplace Pvt. Ltd.(Zepto)

- (v) Curaden India Private Limited

- (vi) Duroflex Private Limited

- (vii) Flipkart Internet Private Limited

- (viii) Myntra Designs Private Limited

- (ix) Cleartrip Private Limited

- (x) Walmart India Private Limited

- (xi) Makemy Trip (India) Private Limited

- (xii) Big Basket (Innovative Retail Concepts Private Limited)

- (xiii) Tira Beauty (Reliance Retail Limited)

- (xiv) Jio Mart ( Reliance Retail Limited)

- (xv) Reliance Jewels (Reliance Retail Limited)

- (xvi) Ajio (Reliance Retail Limited)

- (xvii) Reliance Digital (Reliance Retail Limited)

- (xviii) Netmeds (Reliance Retail Limited)

- (xix) Hamleys (Reliance Retail Limited)

- (xx) MilBasket (Reliance Retail Limited)

- (xxi) Swiggy Limited

- (xxii) TATA 1 mg

- (xxiii) Zomato (Eternal Limited)

- (xxiv) Blinkit (Blink Commerce Private Limited)

- (xxv) Ixigo (Le Travenues Technology Limited)

- (xxvi) Meesho

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