**Executive Summary**
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of INR 27.38 crores on Intel Corporation for contravention of provisions of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002. This penalty is related to Intel's India Specific Warranty Policy for Boxed Microprocessors, which CCI found to be discriminatory and causing an appreciable adverse effect on Indian consumers. Intel has been directed to publicize the withdrawal of the policy and submit a compliance report. The order was passed on February 12, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **CCI Order Details:**
* Order issued on 12.02.2026 under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002.
* Imposed a penalty of INR 27.38 crores on Intel Corporation.
* Case originated from information filed by Matrix Info Systems Private Limited.
* **India Specific Warranty Policy:**
* Policy amended with effect from 25.04.2016.
* Intel would only entertain warranty requests for Intel Boxed Micro Processors purchased from an authorized Indian distributor.
* Intel did not acknowledge warranty requests on BMPs purchased from authorized distributors in the rest of the world and redirected them to the country of purchase to avail the warranty.
* **CCI Findings:**
* Intel held to be dominant in the market of Boxed Micro Processors for desktops in India.
* India Specific Warranty Policy found to be discriminatory compared to Intel's policies in other regions.
* The policy limited consumer choice and affected parallel importers, causing adverse effects on Indian consumers.
* Intel found in contravention of provisions of Section 4 of the Act.
* **Penalty and Actions:**
* Penalty was initially calculated at 8% of Intel's average relevant turnover.
* Mitigating factors including the discontinuation of the policy w.e.f. 01.04.2024 resulted in reducing the penalty to INR 27.38 crores.
* Intel must publicize the withdrawal of the policy.
* Intel must submit a compliance report.
**Impact Analysis**
**Intel Corporation**
* **Impact:**
* Financial penalty of INR 27.38 crores.
* Reputational impact due to adverse findings by CCI.
* Operational changes required to comply with the directive to withdraw the discriminatory warranty policy.
* **Action Required:**
* Pay the penalty of INR 27.38 crores.
* Widely publicize the withdrawal of the India Specific Warranty Policy.
* Submit a compliance report to the CCI.
**Indian Consumers**
* **Impact:**
* Previously limited choice and potentially higher costs due to the restrictive warranty policy.
* Potential for improved access to warranty services now that the discriminatory policy has been withdrawn.
* **Action Required:**
* Awareness of the withdrawal of the India Specific Warranty Policy.
**Parallel Importers**
* **Impact:**
* Previously disadvantaged by the restrictive warranty policy.
* Potential for improved business opportunities as the policy is withdrawn.
* **Action Required:**
* None mentioned in the document.
Key Entities Referenced
Competition Commission of India (CCI): The primary regulator that imposed the penalty on Intel.
Intel Corporation: The company penalized for its India Specific Warranty Policy.
India Specific Warranty Policy: The warranty policy of Intel that was found to be discriminatory.
Competition Act, 2002: The act under which the penalty was imposed; specifically, Sections 27 and 4 were cited.
India: The geographic location where the discriminatory warranty policy was applied.
Competition Commission of India
CCI imposes penalty on Intel Corp. for its India
Specific Warranty Policy in respect of Boxed
Microprocessors
Posted On: 12 FEB 2026 5:13PM by PIB Delhi
Competion Commission of India has imposed a penalty on Intel Corporation for its India Specific
Warranty Policy in respect of Boxed Microprocessors.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) passed an order on 12.02.2026 under the provisions of
Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002 (Act) imposing a penalty of INR 27.38 crores upon Intel
Corporation (Intel) for contravention of provisions of Section 4 of the Act.
The case originated from the Information filed by Matrix Info Systems Private Limited under Section
19(1)(a) of the Act. The Informant alleged that Intel amended its warranty policy for India with effect
from 25.04.2016. As per this new policy, Intel would entertain warranty requests for Intel Boxed Micro
Processors in India only when the same are purchased from an authorised Indian distributor of Intel
(‘India Specific Warranty Policy’). As a result of this India Specific Warranty Policy, Intel did not
acknowledge warranty requests on its BMPs that are purchased from its authorised distributors in the rest
of the world and instead redirected them to the country of purchase to avail the warranty.
Based on the evidence available, the Commission held Intel to be dominant in the relevant market of
Boxed Micro Processors for desktops in India. The Commission found India Specific Warranty Policy
discriminatory in comparison with Intel’s warranty policies in China, Australia and rest of the world. The
Commission also found the aforesaid policy to have limited the choice of consumers and parallel
importers and thereby causing an appreciable adverse effect on Indian consumers. Accordingly, the
Commission
found the conduct of Intel in contravention of provisions of Section 4 of the Act.
The Commission, considering the fact that the India Specific Warranty Policy was in place for eight years,
imposed penalty @ 8% on the average relevant turnover of Intel. However, considering the mitigating
factors including the discontinuation of the aforesaid policy w.e.f. 01.04.2024, the Commission reduced
the amount and imposed a penalty of INR 27.38 crores on Intel. The Commission also directed Intel to
widely publicise the withdrawal of the impugned India Specific Warranty Policy, and submit a compliance
report.
The order was passed in Case No.05 of 2019 and a copy is available on the CCI website at www.cci.gov.i
n.
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