Consumer Protection

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Coimbatore, has directed motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield and its authorised dealer Bharat Automotives to jointly pay Rs 5.1 lakh in compensation to a consumer whose motorcycle suffered repeated mechanical and electrical defects despite several warranty repairs. The order is a notable example of consumer forums holding both manufacturers and authorised dealers jointly liable for persistent product defects, and it reinf

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued an advisory prohibiting hotels and restaurants from adding extra charges such as "LPG charges," "gas surcharge," or "fuel cost recovery" to customer bills. The CCPA has stated that such practices constitute unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. This advisory follows a growing trend of hospitality establishments adding undisclosed surcharges to bills beyond the menu prices, catching consumers

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has dismissed an appeal filed by Religare Health Insurance Co. Ltd., holding that an insurance claim cannot be repudiated merely on suspicion of a pre-existing disease in the absence of cogent medical evidence. The order, passed in April 2026, reinforces a principle that has been developing across consumer forums and courts in India: that insurance companies bear the burden of proving that a disease was pre-existing, and

India's e-commerce refund regime has evolved substantially under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 and ongoing regulatory amendments through 2026. E-commerce platforms and sellers must provide automatic refunds when products contain defects or deficiencies, without charging cancellation fees. Refund timelines must be reasonable and typically processed within specified periods. The regulatory framework emphasizes transparency about country-of-origin with mandatory filters effec

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 received significant amendments in 2025, introducing mandatory case resolution timelines and legal definitions for dark patterns—deceptive design practices used by online platforms. Effective immediately, consumer courts must resolve cases within 90 days of filing, fundamentally accelerating dispute resolution for millions of Indian consumers. The Central Consumer Protection Authority has issued detailed guidelines identifying and penalizing

India's e-commerce sector operates under a complex web of regulations that restrict the sale of certain categories of goods online. The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020, the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and sector-specific regulations collectively define what can and cannot be sold on digital marketplaces. Compliance failures in this area attract significant penalties and, in some cases, criminal liability for platform

The Central Consumer Protection Authority has issued notices to major e-commerce platforms in India for allowing the listing and sale of wireless devices that do not carry the mandatory type-approval from the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing of the Department of Telecommunications. The enforcement action targets products including wireless routers, Wi-Fi extenders, and Bluetooth devices sold without the WPC certification that Indian law requires before such products ca

The Natural Gas Supply Regulation Order 2026 issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board marks a shift in how natural gas is allocated, priced, and supplied to end consumers in India. The Order affects domestic households receiving piped natural gas, commercial establishments, and industrial units across the country's growing city gas distribution network. For both business and residential consumers, the practical impact is felt in supply reliability, tariff clar

India's Consumer Protection Act 2019 represents a comprehensive legal framework designed to protect consumers from defective products and unsafe goods. In an increasingly complex marketplace where products are manufactured across multiple entities and supply chains, understanding product liability becomes crucial for consumers seeking compensation and manufacturers working to comply with legal obligations. The CPA 2019 fundamentally expanded the definition of defects and the

E-commerce platforms operating in India face increasingly complex compliance requirements regarding the sale and distribution of restricted products. The regulatory framework governing restricted goods has become a critical concern for online marketplaces, particularly those operating through multiple seller networks. Understanding what constitutes a restricted product, how these restrictions apply to different platforms, and the procedural obligations for marketplace operato

Dark patterns are deceptive user interface designs that trick or manipulate consumers into making decisions they would not otherwise make, such as unknowingly subscribing to services, sharing personal data, or paying hidden charges. Recognising the growing threat these practices pose to online consumers, India's Department of Consumer Affairs notified the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns in 2023, making India one of the few countries with dedicated da

India's e-commerce market is projected to reach USD 137 billion by 2025 and USD 363 billion by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the world. To protect the millions of consumers who now shop online, the Government of India enacted the Consumer Protection Act 2019, replacing the older 1986 Act, and introduced the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020. These rules brought e-commerce activities under a dedicated regulatory framework for the fir

Dark patterns, the deceptive design techniques used by digital platforms to manipulate consumer choices, have come under intense regulatory scrutiny in India. If you operate an e-commerce platform, a subscription service, a quick commerce application, or any online business with a consumer-facing interface, compliance with the Central Consumer Protection Authority's (CCPA) dark pattern regulations is now a pressing legal obligation. The CCPA's enforcement actions in 2025 and

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