Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 19 AUGUST 2026

The Omnichannel Reality: Why Competition Law Must Look Beyond E-Commerce

AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Contributor
AZB & Partners

AZB & Partners

AZB & Partners, one of India’s premier law firms was founded in 2004 with a clear purpose to...

View firm profile
Explore more from AZB & Partners

As India's retail landscape evolves into an integrated omnichannel ecosystem, competition law frameworks continue to treat online and offline retail as separate markets. With e-commerce representing just 6-7% of consumer spending while consumers seamlessly move between digital and physical channels, the question emerges: are regulators defining markets based on outdated channel distinctions rather than actual competitive dynamics?

GlobalAntitrust/Competition Law
Toshit Shandilya
Toshit Shandilya
Ritika Sundrani
Ritika Sundrani
Author LinkedIn connections

The article is originally published in NDTV Profit at The Omnichannel Reality: Why Competition Law Must Look Beyond E-Commerce.

In June 2026, government officials, representatives from ONDC, and digital commerce stakeholders gathered for a roundtable on DigiDukaan. ONDC, the Open Network for Digital Commerce, is the government’s open protocol that allows buyers and sellers to transact across platforms without being tied to a single marketplace.

DigiDukaan is one of the programmes running on this network, helping small retailers establish a digital presence and reach customers beyond their immediate neighbourhood. What stood out during the discussion was that the conversation was not about replacing offline retail. It was about helping small businesses compete in a market where consumers increasingly move between physical and digital channels.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

An Update On India’s Proposed Digital Competition Law

India’s proposed Digital Competition Law has evolved through several stages, from the 2022 Parliamentary Committee report and the 2024 Committee on Digital Competition Law’s draft Bill, through a 2025 government reconsideration, to renewed Parliamentary backing for an ex-ante framework in August 2026. Drawing on comparative experience from the EU, UK, and Japan, this article argues that legislative reform must be matched by a strengthened Competition Commission of India if ex-ante regulation is to work in practice.
IndiaAntitrust/Competition Law
Corporate Professionals - Advisors & Advocates
Corporate Professionals - Advisors & Advocates
Article

Competition Law Updates August 2026

On 13 July 2026, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed penalties exceeding ₹142 crore on HP India and several reselers under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002 (Competition Act) for cartelisation and bid rigging in the sale and supply of HP personal system products, including laptops, desktops, workstations and accessories (Computers Case), and ink and toner cartridges (Cartridges Case). The orders arose from lesser penalty applications filed by HP India under Section 46 of the Competition Act read with the CCI (Lesser Penalty) Regulations, 2009.
IndiaAntitrust/Competition Law
King, Stubb & Kasiva
King, Stubb & Kasiva
Article

Keep The Key, Share The Gate: Competition Advocacy To States On Visa Application Services

Most visa applicants deal not with a consulate but with a single private provider they did not choose. Viewing visa facilitation through a competition lens, this article examines the concerns that exclusive contracts raise. While supporting outsourcing, it calls for advocacy with missions to open these services to more than one provider through better tender design.
IndiaAntitrust/Competition Law
Corporate Professionals - Advisors & Advocates
Corporate Professionals - Advisors & Advocates
Article

Enhancement Of PF Wage Ceiling To INR 25,000

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has issued a notification dated September 17, 2026, notifying INR 25,000 per month as the new wage ceiling for the purposes of the provident fund provisions (“PF“) of the Code on Social Security, 2020 (“SS Code”). The notification is effective from September 17, 2026. The wage ceiling was last revised 12 years ago in September 2014, when it was increased from INR 6,500 per month to INR 15,000 per month.
IndiaEmployment and HR
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

Rethinking E-Commerce Compliance: Key Changes Under The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026

On September 9, 2026, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) notified the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (“Amendment Rules”), amending the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 (“E-Commerce Rules”). The Amendment Rules will come into force on January 1, 2027.
IndiaConsumer Protection
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

FCRA Amendment Rules, 2026: Key Changes And Practical Implications

AZB & Partners provides important disclaimers regarding the nature and purpose of their website, clarifying that no solicitation or advertising has occurred and that the information is provided solely at the user's request. The firm outlines the limitations of the website content and emphasizes that accessing it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Users are informed about their responsibilities when using the site and the firm's intellectual property rights over the content.
IndiaCorporate/Commercial Law
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

New Social Security Schemes For Employees In India

India has introduced three new social security schemes under the Code on Social Security, 2020, effective July 1, 2026, fundamentally restructuring the country's provident fund, pension, and insurance frameworks. These schemes replace decades-old regulations and introduce special provisions including enrollment campaigns, damage relief programs, and retrospective exemptions for establishments. The new framework maintains contribution structures while introducing significant operational changes and transitio
IndiaEmployment and HR
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners
Article

Arbitral Award Signed, Not Stamped: The Delhi High Court In URC Construction v. Airports Authority Of India Closes The Door On Deferred Stamp Duty At The Enforcement Stage

The Delhi High Court has ruled that arbitral awards must be stamped when signed, not when enforcement is sought, closing a decades-old practice of deferred stamp duty payment. Once the one-month statutory window expires, award holders cannot cure the deficiency through unilateral deposit and must pay both deficit duty and penalty at a fixed rate, fundamentally reshaping enforcement practice for arbitration practitioners across India.
IndiaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
AZB & Partners
AZB & Partners