New Delhi, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Centre has amended the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules to strengthen safeguards for online shoppers, with new provisions covering consumer grievances, search results, sponsored listings, price reductions, dark patterns and seller disclosures.
The Department of Consumer Affairs said the amended rules will come into force from January 1, 2027, and are aimed at creating a more transparent and balanced regulatory framework for the rapidly evolving e-commerce sector.
The amendments seek to address emerging consumer concerns while ensuring ease of doing business and avoiding unnecessary regulatory burdens on e-commerce entities, the department said.
A key change requires every e-commerce entity to become a partner in the convergence process of the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), integrating online platforms more closely with the national consumer grievance redressal mechanism.
The NCH received 17,71,622 grievances during 2025, of which 5,11,196, or around 29 per cent, were related to the e-commerce sector.
Under the amended rules, e-commerce entities will have to provide complainants with a copy of the complaint recorded by their grievance officer.
Platforms will also be prohibited from manipulating search results in ways that mislead consumers or undermine the relevance of results to their queries. Sponsored listings will have to carry clear and prominent disclosures.
The rules introduce greater transparency around advertised price reductions. Whenever a price cut is announced, both the reduced price and the prior price must be displayed. The prior price will mean the lowest price at which the product or service was offered during the 30 days preceding the price reduction announcement.
E-commerce entities will also be required to comply with the 2023 Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, conduct an annual self-audit and prominently display a certificate confirming compliance.
For marketplace platforms, the amended rules require disclosure of key information such as best-before or use-before dates, return and refund policies, warranty details, delivery terms and payment information to help consumers make informed choices.
Marketplace entities will also be prohibited from using consumer information for specified purposes without express and affirmative consent.
The rules further bar marketplace e-commerce entities from collecting bundled fees for services unrelated to their platforms, subject to the specified exception for loyalty or membership programmes.
For imported products, marketplaces will have to disclose importer details and the country of origin.
The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, were notified under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, to establish safeguards against unfair trade practices in the online marketplace.
The Department of Consumer Affairs said the 2026 amendments strengthen that framework in response to changing business models, digital practices and consumer expectations.
The changes are intended to create a more transparent, accountable and consumer-centric e-commerce ecosystem while providing greater clarity to businesses on their responsibilities and promoting a level playing field in the digital marketplace.
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