Rajya Sabha Committee Review of CCI Regulations 2024
The Committee on Subordinate Legislation, Rajya Sabha, chaired by Shri Milind Murli Deora, presented its 257th Report on July 21, 2026, reviewing four key Competition Commission of India regulations: the Commitment Regulations 2024, Settlement Regulations 2024, Determination of Turnover or Income Regulations 2024, and Determination of Monetary Penalty Guidelines 2024. The report follows detailed deliberations with representatives from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Competition Commission of India.
Key Recommendations and Observations
The Committee recommends that the Ministry and CCI undertake periodic reviews of the entire competition law regulatory architecture through comprehensive stakeholder consultations and systematic benchmarking against global best practices. This is particularly important to keep pace with rapid changes in the digital era and address new market challenges effectively.
Noting that public awareness of competition law has increased but requires further enhancement, the Committee emphasizes the need for stronger advocacy and outreach initiatives targeting MSMEs, startups, and emerging businesses. The Committee recommends deeper engagement with industry chambers and trade associations to promote voluntary compliance and foster a culture of competition across sectors.
The Committee expresses particular concern about protecting small businesses, MSMEs, and startups from monopolistic practices, stating that vigorous antitrust enforcement is indispensable to foster free competition and innovation. The report highlights that monopolies disproportionately affect the least advantaged market participants.
Regarding enforcement, the Committee notes with concern the issue of repeated contraventions of competition laws by corporate entities, which risk being internalized as a mere "cost of doing business." The Committee urges CCI to vigorously enforce the Determination of Monetary Penalty Guidelines, which treat repeated contraventions as an aggravating factor to ensure proper deterrence.
The report acknowledges CCI's impressive achievement of over 98% recovery rate of legally enforceable penalties. However, it notes that a substantial portion of penalties imposed by CCI has been stayed or quashed on appeal, indicating a need to strengthen investigations, evidence gathering, and penalty assessment processes to improve the sustainability of CCI orders during judicial scrutiny.
For transparency, the Committee recommends rigorous enforcement of the Penalty Guidelines 2024 and insists that CCI provide detailed methodology in its orders explaining how penalty amounts are calculated for contraventions of various sections of the Competition Act, 2002.
Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening
The Committee emphasizes that rapid technological advancements and digitalization have significantly increased the complexity of competition assessment and enforcement. It recommends continuous capacity building through structured training programs for CCI officers, focusing on emerging technologies, contemporary competition issues, and international best practices to enhance institutional capabilities.
Recognizing that competition issues often cut across sectors regulated by different statutory authorities, the Committee recommends that CCI explore institutional mechanisms for cooperation with sectoral regulators, including entering into Memoranda of Understanding where appropriate. Such arrangements would facilitate information-sharing, promote policy coherence, and enhance regulatory coordination.
Finally, the Committee highlights the importance of market studies in understanding market structures, business practices, and emerging trends. It recommends that CCI continue undertaking such studies in a structured and regular manner to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and contribute to the development of competitive and efficient markets.