(a) whether Government proposes formulation of e-commerce policy to check malpractices including predatory prices and deep discounts by e-retailers;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether Government proposes to constitute e-regulatory authority to regulate and monitor e-commerce business and to delegate more powers to penalise and take actions against the violators of the policy; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
???????? ??? ?????? ?????? (???? ????? ????)
THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a)&(b): No Sir. Measures to check malpractices by e-Commerce companies including predatory prices and deep discounts are laid down in the Competition Act 2002, which inter alia also checks anti-competitive agreements, including vertical restraints. Further, extant FDI policy on E-Commerce sector has prescribed Guidelines for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on e-commerce which specifies that e-commerce marketplaces will not directly or indirectly influence the sale price of goods or services and shall maintain a level playing field.
(c)&(d): Owing to the cross cutting nature of e-Commerce, different laws and regulations across sectors govern the present e-Commerce activities, some of which are; Income Tax Act, 1961, Consumer Protection Act, 1986, Information Technology Act, 2000, Foreign Exchange Management Act, 2000, Payment And Settlement Systems Act 2007, Companies Act, 2013 and laws related to Goods and Services Tax. However, no such proposal is under consideration of the Government to constitute e-regulatory authority to regulate & monitor e-Commerce business in India.
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