**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1446 in Lok Sabha concerning Competition Law Reforms and Enforcement, addressed on February 9, 2026. It outlines major developments in competition law enforcement in 2025, steps to operationalize competition law reforms, measures to improve the efficiency of proceedings, and the objectives and findings of the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) Market Study on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The document references the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 and related rules and regulations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Competition Law Enforcement in 2025:**
* The CCI registered 54 antitrust cases and received 149 merger filings.
* The CCI passed final orders in 38 antitrust cases and disposed of 146 merger notices.
* **Operationalization of Competition Law Reforms:**
* The Government of India notified various Rules and Regulations under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023; details are in the Annexure.
* The Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, provides that penalties are based on global turnover.
* The CCI notified the CCI (Determination of Monetary Penalty) Guidelines, 2024, which details the methodology for penalty determination.
* **Efficiency and Transparency of Proceedings:**
* The Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 reduced the time limit for M&A approval from 210 to 150 days and introduced settlement and commitment frameworks.
* The Green Channel route facilitates expedited approval of combinations.
* **Market Study on AI and Competition:**
* The study examined AI systems, markets, stakeholders, resources, value chains, market structures, and competition parameters.
* It identified key competition concerns, including concentration in the AI value chain, ecosystem lock-in, algorithmic collusion, self-preferencing, and AI-enabled price discrimination.
* Findings include self-audit of AI systems, improved transparency, advocacy, and capacity building.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Competition Commission of India (CCI)**
* **Impact:** The CCI is tasked with implementing and enforcing the amended competition laws, including the new penalty guidelines and expedited approval processes. The CCI will also leverage the findings of the AI Market Study.
* **Action Required:** The CCI must adhere to the new guidelines for penalty determination, implement the revised timelines for M&A approvals, and utilize the Green Channel route to expedite approvals. The CCI will incorporate the AI Market Study findings into its future enforcement and advocacy priorities.
**Stakeholder: Businesses and Enterprises**
* **Impact:** Businesses are subject to the amended competition laws, including penalties based on global turnover and the potential for faster resolution of competition cases through settlement and commitment frameworks. They must also be aware of the competition concerns in the AI ecosystem.
* **Action Required:** Businesses need to comply with the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 and related regulations, including self-auditing their AI systems for competition compliance and understanding potential penalties based on global turnover.
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* **Impact:** Consumers are expected to benefit from the enhanced competition law enforcement and the promotion of a competitive AI ecosystem.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required from consumers.
**Stakeholder: Government of India**
* **Impact:** The Government is responsible for notifying and implementing the amended competition laws and related rules and regulations.
* **Action Required:** The Government will monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 and related regulations, and make adjustments as necessary.
Key Entities Referenced
Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023: Key legislation introducing reforms to competition law, including settlement and commitment mechanisms, and changes in penalty determination.
Competition Commission of India (CCI): The primary regulator overseeing competition law enforcement, antitrust actions, and merger control.
Market Study on AI and Competition: A study by the CCI focusing on understanding the AI ecosystem and its impact on competition in India.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs: The ministry responsible for administering the Competition Act and overseeing the CCI.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1446
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026
COMPETITION LAW REFORMS AND ENFORCEMENT
QUESTION
1446. Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab:
Shri Anurag Sharma:
Shri Tejasvi Surya:
Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti:
Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram:
Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the major developments during the year 2025 in competition law
enforcement, including antitrust actions and merger control oversight by the
Competition Commission of India;
(b) the steps taken by the Government to operationalise recent competition
law reforms, including settlement and commitment mechanisms and changes
in penalty determination;
(c) the institutional and procedural measures adopted by the Government to
improve the efficiency, transparency and timeliness of proceedings before the
said Commission; and
(d) the objectives and key competition concerns identified under the
Competition Commission of India’s Market Study on Artificial Intelligence and
the manner in which its findings are proposed to inform future competition
policy and enforcement?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND
HIGHWAYS.(SHRI HARSH MALHOTRA)
(a) During the calendar year 2025, the Competition Commission of
India (‘CCI’) registered 54 matters relating to anti-competitive
practices/ antitrust and received 149 merger (M&A) filings. The
Commission passed final orders in 38 antitrust cases and disposed of
146 merger notices.
(b) To operationalize recent competition law reforms, the
Government of India notified various Rules and Regulations under the
Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023. The details are placed at
Annexure.
With respect to penalty determination, the Competition
(Amendment) Act, 2023 provided for calculation of penalty based on
the global turnover of the person or enterprise. The Competition
Commission of India has notified the CCI (Determination of Monetary
Penalty) Guidelines, 2024, which lay down a detailed methodology for
determination of penalty.
(c) To improve the efficiency, transparency and timeliness of
proceedings before the Commission, Competition (Amendment) Act,
2023 introduced forward looking reforms to reduce the time limit for
approval of combinations (M&As), from 210 days to 150 days and also
introduced settlement and commitment framework in the interests of
faster resolution of competition cases.
Further, the Green Channel route incorporated under the Act
facilitates expedited approval of combinations through deemed
approval upon filing of notice with the CCI, thereby enabling faster
resolution of competition cases.
(d) The Market Study on AI and Competition was undertaken to
understand key AI system and markets/ecosystems including
stakeholders, essential inputs/resources, value chains, market
structures and competition parameters; examine emerging
competition issues; assess AI applications, opportunities, risks and
ramification; understand regulatory/ legal frameworks in India and
other major jurisdictions; and ascertain the Commission’s enforcement
and advocacy priorities.
The Study identified key competition concerns includingconcentration in the AI value chain due to high upfront costs and
access to data and talent; ecosystem lock-in and switching costs,
risks of algorithmic collusion through AI-driven pricing algorithms and
automated business decisions; self-preferencing across the AI tech
stack and AI-enabled price discrimination through use of consumer
data.
To promote a competitive AI ecosystem in India and protect
consumer welfare, the findings include self-audit of AI systems for
competition compliance by businesses; improved transparency and
reducing of information asymmetry; focused advocacy and capacity
building by CCI; continuation of Government policy initiatives; and
inter-regulatory coordination and international cooperation.Annexure
The Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 was notified on
11.04.2023. Pursuant to the Amendment, the following Rules have
been framed under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023:
i. The Competition (Form of Publication of Guideline) Rules
2023. (GSR No. 795(E).
ii. The Competition (Minimum Value of Assets or Turnover)
Rules, 2024. (GSR No. 547(E).
iii. The Competition (Criteria of Combination) Rules 2024. (GSR
No. 548(E).
iv. The Competition (Criteria for Exemption of Combinations)
Rules 2024. (GSR No. 549(E).
In addition, all relevant Regulations under the Competition
(Amendment) Act, 2023 have been framed and notified, namely:
⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Lesser Penalty)
Regulations, 2024
⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Settlement)
Regulations, 2024
⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Commitment)
Regulations, 2024
⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Determination of
Turnover or Income) Regulations, 2024
⮚ The Competition Commission of India (Combination)
Regulations, 2024
⮚ The Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations,
2024
****