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ARTICLE · 18 FEBRUARY 2025

Understanding India's New e-Commerce Self-Governance Guidelines

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On January 16, 2025, the Bureau of Indian Standards ("BIS") under the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs, has proposed a draft guideline titled ‘E-commerce - Principles and Guidelines for Self-Governance' ("Draft Guidelines")

IndiaConsumer Protection
Bhavya Sriram
Bhavya Sriram
Mahemaa Senthilkumar
Mahemaa Senthilkumar
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On January 16, 2025, the Bureau of Indian Standards ("BIS") under the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs, has proposed a draft guideline titled 'E-commerce - Principles and Guidelines for Self-Governance' ("Draft Guidelines") with an aim to enhance transparency, consumer protection, and fair business practices, marking a significant stride in regulating online marketplaces in a consumer-centric manner. The Draft Guidelines seeks to fortify consumer rights and ensure a level playing field in the e-commerce landscape.

Principles of self–governance

The Draft Guidelines introduces 3 (three) phase principles covering pre-transaction, contract formation and post-transaction stages for e-commerce operations.

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