"Green Channel" – Automatic Approval Route For Certain Combinations - A Primer

While all other regulatory functions of the fair trade regulator, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) remain suspended during the national lock-down due to COVID 19 pandemic , the “green channel” route was still available to the corporates.

What is a Green Channel route?

Based on one of the recommendations made in the report of the Competition Law Review Committee¹ to this effect , the CCI , taking a pro-active stance , adopted and implemented the “Green Channel” by amending the Competition Commission of India (Procedure in regard to transaction of business relating to combinations) Regulations, 2011 (“Amended Combination Regulations”) vide a Gazette notification dated 13 August 2019 . The “Green Channel” route provides for automatic approval of certain combinations under the Competition Act 2002 (the Act). Combinations qualifying for the Green Channel are deemed to be approved on the date of receipt of the acknowledgment of filing of the Notice in Form 1