Notification/Circular No.: G.S.R. 789(E) dated on Sep 9 2026
Applicable Act/Rule: Consumer Protection Act, 2019; Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020
Applicable Section/Rule: Rules 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020
Effective Date: January 1, 2027
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution notified amendments to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, covering online marketplace disclosures, product listings, pricing, consumer complaints and platform practices.
E-commerce entities must prominently disclose their legal name, registered addresses, website details and customer-care and grievance-officer contacts. Grievance officers must acknowledge complaints within 48 hours and resolve them within one month. Platforms must disclose the country of origin of imported goods, identify sponsored listings, display the prior price alongside discounted prices and disclose the seller’s name on invoices in the same font size as the platform’s name.
The amendments prohibit misleading manipulation of search results, require annual self-audits for dark patterns, and prescribe disclosures about sellers, product information, returns, refunds, warranties, delivery and payment methods. Marketplace entities are restricted from using collected consumer information for specified seller promotions or sales without express affirmative consent. They are also prohibited from collecting bundled fees for services unrelated to the e-commerce platform, subject to the stated loyalty and membership programme exception.
“Every e-commerce entity shall ensure that sponsored listing of products and services are distinctly identified with clear and prominent disclosures.”
“Where an e-commerce entity or the seller announces a price reduction for any goods or services on its platform, it shall indicate the prior price of such goods or services along with reduced price.”
“Every e-commerce entity shall comply with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023 and also conduct yearly self-audit to ensure that its platform is free from dark patterns and a certificate to this effect shall be displayed prominently.”
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