Question : Cheating by e-Commerce Companies

(a) the details of the growth and size of e-commerce sector in the country during the last three years and the current year;
(b) whether complaints of fraud, cheating, tax evasion, mis-selling etc. against such e-commerce companies have been received by the Government, if so, the details thereof and the corrective action taken thereon;
(c) whether the lack of proper definition and provisions for e-commerce has led to complexities and problems in its operation, if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard; and
(d) the steps taken to identify genuine sellers and weed out the counterfeit suppliers in e-commerce sector in the country?

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

(a) : As per latest Economic Survey i:e 2015-16, the size of domestic e-commerce sector has grown from US $4.4 billion in 2010 to US$ 13.6 billion in 2014. This market is excepted to touch US$16 billion by the end of 2015.

(b) : A total of twelve complaints have been received against E-commerce companies against deficiency in service, unfair trade practices and unauthorised collection of funds from the public. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has completed investigation in the cases relating two companies i:e Unipay 2 Group and Speakasia Online Group.

(c) & (d) : No Madam. There is no separate regulation for e-commerce as these activities and issues linked to them are under different laws and regulation like the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Company Law, Income Tax Laws, Consumer Protection Act etc.

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