Lok Sabha Question No. 1600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Enforcement of Competition Act
Ministry: CORPORATE AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Jugal Kishore

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1600

ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026

## ENFORCEMENT OF COMPETITION ACT

## QUESTION

1600. Shri Jugal Kishore

Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS

be pleased to state:

- (a) the major developments made  in the enforcement of the Competition Act in Jammu and Kashmir during the year 2025 including overseeing of anti-competitive practices and merger by the Competition Commission of India (CCI);
- (b) the steps taken by the Government to implement recent Competition Act reforms including changes regarding settlement and commitment mechanisms and penalty determination;
- (c) the institutional and procedural measures taken by the Government to improve the efficiency, transparency and timelines of proceedings before the CCI; and
- (d)  the  key  objectives  and  competitive  concerns  identified  in  the market study on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) made by the CCI along with the manner in which its findings are likely to be used to guide 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.

(SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA)

- (a) No case emanated from or was instituted against entities based in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir during the period.
- (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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