Question : Online Sale of Essential Commodities

(a) whether the Government has permitted online sale of essential commodities including foodgrains;

(b) if so, the number of companies permitted to sell essential commodities including foodgrains and groceries online;

(c) whether the Government has also constituted any monitoring mechanism to supervise the stock of essential commodities being sold by the said companies; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to ensure the availability of essential commodities in normal retail market?

THE MINISTER FOR
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a) & (b) : There is no ban on online sale of essential commodities including foodgrains. At present, there is no separate law/regulations to govern e-commerce/online sale of goods and services. Therefore like any other retailing business they come under the purview of different laws like Shop and Establishment Act, Sales of Goods Act, Information Technology Act, 2000, Income Tax Act, Foreign Exchange Regulations Act, Indian Penal Code, Consumer Protection Act and the Contract Act etc.

(c) & (d) : Does not arise.
*****