Consumer Protection In E-Commerce In India: An Analysis Of Regulatory Challenges And The Path Forward
- IJLLR Journal
- Mar 20
- 1 min read
Chetan Patwa, (BBA LLB, LLM, DLL&LW), Assistant Professor, Renaissance Law College, Indore
ABSTRACT
The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 mark a landmark step in strengthening the safeguards available to consumers participating in India's rapidly expanding digital marketplace. These regulations impose clear obligations on e-commerce platforms to disclose accurate and complete information about products, sellers, and return or refund procedures, thereby reducing information asymmetry and fostering trust between buyers and platforms. By mandating transparency around pricing, product attributes, additional charges, and seller identities, the rules aim to shield consumers from deceptive practices and uninformed purchasing decisions. They further require platforms to appoint designated grievance officers and establish accessible complaint resolution systems with defined timelines, ensuring that consumer concerns are addressed promptly and systematically. Despite these notable advances, implementation remains uneven, particularly among smaller platforms with limited compliance capacity. Nonetheless, the framework represents a meaningful effort to promote fair competition, protect consumer rights, and encourage the long-term sustainable growth of e-commerce in India.
Keywords: Consumer Protection, E-Commerce Regulation, Transparency, Grievance Redressal, Seller Disclosure, Consumer Rights, Digital Marketplace, India
