{
  "id": 6624061,
  "title": "Govt Tightens Ecommerce Rules Ahead Of The Festive Season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/govt-tightens-ecommerce-rules-ahead-of-the-festive-season",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-10T18:21:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Inc42",
    "slug": "inc42",
    "url": "https://inc42.com/buzz/govt-tightens-ecommerce-rules-ahead-of-the-festive-season/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Indian government has updated ecommerce regulations ahead of the upcoming festive season, aiming to curb \"dark patterns\" on online platforms and quick commerce services. The new Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, will replace the existing Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020. These amendments will take effect starting in January 2027. The consumer affairs department highlighted that the new rules will enhance transparency, bolster consumer grievance provisions, and address emerging concerns in the digital marketplace while maintaining a balance between consumer protection and ease of doing business.\n\nKey aspects of the amended rules include:\n1. All ecommerce platforms must become convergence partners of the national consumer helpline (NCH) to resolve customer grievances promptly.\n2. Ecommerce platforms are prohibited from manipulating search results, which could mislead users or distort search result relevance.\n3. Sponsored listings must be clearly identified through prominent disclosures.\n4. Price reductions must display both the reduced and prior prices, with the latter being the lowest price at which the item was sold 30 days prior to the announcement.\n5. Annual self-audits will be mandatory for ecommerce platforms to comply with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023.\n6. Online marketplaces must provide essential information, such as best before dates, refunds, warranty, delivery, and payment details, to enable informed consumer decisions.\n7. Ecommerce platforms cannot use consumer information without explicit and affirmative consent.\n8. Importer details and country of origin must be disclosed for imported goods.\n\nThe government is also cracking down on dark patterns, which have been a recurring issue during the festive season. In 2025, over 5.1 lakh complaints were registered against ecommerce and quick commerce platforms at the National Consumer Helpline, with major platforms like Flipkart, Amazon, and Meesho facing the brunt. Dark patterns, such as confirm shaming, subscription traps, bait and switch tactics, false urgency, basket sneaking, and disguised ads, have been identified and prohibited by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). Despite previous penalties and advisories, violations persist, leading to recent enforcement actions against brands like Storia and PhysicsWallah for employing misleading practices.",
  "summary": "The Centre has amended the ecommerce rules to curb dark patterns on online marketplaces and quick commerce platforms. Called Consumer…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}