In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs outlined the status of enforcement under the Competition Act, 2002 and recent reforms. It clarified that no antitrust or merger cases were instituted against entities based in Jammu and Kashmir during 2025. To operationalise reforms introduced by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, the Government notified multiple rules and regulations, including a shift to global-turnover–based penalties and detailed guidance through the Competition Commission of India’s Monetary Penalty Guidelines, 2024. Procedural changes reduced merger approval timelines from 210 to 150 days, introduced settlement and commitment mechanisms, and expanded the Green Channel for deemed approvals to speed up clearances. The CCI’s market study on artificial intelligence identified competition risks such as concentration, data and talent barriers, ecosystem lock-in, algorithmic collusion, self-preferencing, and AI-driven price discrimination, recommending self-audits, transparency, advocacy, and inter-regulatory coordination to guide future enforcement and policy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1600
ANSWERED ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026
ENFORCEMENT OF COMPETITION ACT
QUESTION
1600. Shri Jugal Kishore
Will the Minister of CORPORATE AFFAIRS
be pleased to state:
(a) the major developments made in the enforcement of the Competition Act in Jammu and Kashmir during the year 2025 including overseeing of anti-competitive practices and merger by the Competition Commission of India (CCI);
(b) the steps taken by the Government to implement recent Competition Act reforms including changes regarding settlement and commitment mechanisms and penalty determination;
(c) the institutional and procedural measures taken by the Government to improve the efficiency, transparency and timelines of proceedings before the CCI; and
(d) the key objectives and competitive concerns identified in the market study on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) made by the CCI along with the manner in which its findings are likely to be used to guide 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) No case emanated from or was instituted against entities based in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir during the period.
(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 including concentration 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
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