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{{Short description|‘Competition Commission of India’ is the Competition Regulator in India}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Competition Commission of India
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| type = Commission
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| logo = Logo of CCI.png
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| formed = {{Start date and age|df=yes|paren=yes|br=yes|2003|10|14}}
| preceding1 = Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission
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| dissolved =
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| jurisdiction = {{flagicon|India}} [[Republic of India]]
| headquarters = [[New Delhi]]
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| chief1_name = [[Ashok Kumar Gupta]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Ashok Kumar Gupta appointed as the chairman of Competition Commission of India |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/ashok-kumar-gupta-appointed-as-the-chairman-of-competition-commission-of-india/articleshow/66560757.cms |access-date=14 March 2021 |work=The Economic Times}}</ref>
| chief1_position = ''{{small|(Chairman)}}''
| chief2_name = P K Singh
| chief2_position = ''{{small|(Secretary)}}''
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| website = {{URL|https://www.cci.gov.in}}
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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}

The '''Competition Commission of India''' (CCI) is the chief national [[competition regulator]] in India. It is a statutory body within the [[Ministry of Corporate Affairs]] and is responsible for enforcing the [[The Competition Act, 2002|Competition Act, 2002]] in order to promote [[Competition law|competition]] and prevent activities that have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.
The CCI looks into cases and investigate it if the same has negative impact on competition

CCI also approves combination under the act so that two merging entities do not overtake the market

The commission was established on 14 October 2003. It became fully functional in May 2009 with [[Dhanendra Kumar]] as its first Chairman.<ref name="CCI formation">{{cite web|title=CCI formation|url=http://www.cci.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18|publisher=CCI|access-date=4 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="CCI through the eyes of the media: Doing well!">{{cite news|title=CCI through the eyes of the media: Doing well!|url=http://www.moneylife.in/article/competition-commission-through-the-eyes-of-the-media-doing-well/28549.html|access-date=4 January 2013|newspaper=MoneyControl.com|date=18 September 2012}}</ref> The current Chairman of the CCI is [[Ashok Kumar Gupta]], who was appointed to the role in 2018.

==The Competition Act, 2002==
{{main|The Competition Act, 2002}}

The idea of Competition Commission was conceived and introduced in the form of the Competition Act, 2002 by the [[Vajpayee government]]. A need was felt to promote competition and private enterprise especially in the light of [[Economic liberalisation in India|1991 Indian economic liberalisation]].<ref>{{cite news|title=In fact: How India learnt to promote, and regulate, competition|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/in-fact-how-india-learnt-to-promote-and-regulate-competition-2829625/|access-date=2 March 2017}}</ref>

The Competition Act, 2002, as amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007, follows the philosophy of modern competition laws. The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and [[Merger and acquisition]]), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.<ref name="The Competition Act - Act No. 12 of 2003">{{cite web|title=The Competition Act – Act No. 12 of 2003|url=http://www.cci.gov.in/images/media/competition_act/act2002.pdf|publisher=Competition Commission of India|access-date=10 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627063249/http://www.cci.gov.in/images/media/competition_act/act2002.pdf|archive-date=27 June 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The objectives of the Act are sought to be achieved through the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which has been established by the Central Government with effect from 14 October 2003. CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government. It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.<ref name="The Competition Act - Act No. 12 of 2003"/>
The Commission is also required to give an opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a [[statutory authority]] established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.<ref name="The Competition Act - Act No. 12 of 2003"/>

== Objectives ==
{{Quote box
|quote = "The main objective of competition law is to promote economic efficiency using competition as one of the means of assisting the creation of market responsive to consumer preferences. The advantages of perfect competition are three-fold: allocative efficiency, which ensures the effective allocation of resources, productive efficiency, which ensures that costs of production are kept at a minimum and dynamic efficiency, which promotes innovative practices."
|source = [[Supreme Court of India]] Judgment in Civil Appeal No. 7999 of 2010 pronounced on 9 September 2010
|width = 25%
}}

===Preamble to the Competition Act===
An Act to provide, keeping in view of the economic development of the country, for the establishment of a Commission to prevent practices having adverse effect on competition, to promote and sustain competition in markets, to protect the interests of consumers and to ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants in markets, in India, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.<ref name="The Competition Act - Act No. 12 of 2003"/>

To achieve its objectives, the Competition Commission of India endeavors to do the following:
* Make the markets work for the benefit and welfare of consumers.
* Ensure fair and healthy competition in economic activities in the country for faster and [[inclusive growth]] and development of the economy.
* Implement competition policies with an aim to effectuate the most efficient utilization of economic resources.
* Develop and nurture effective relations and interactions with sectoral regulators to ensure smooth alignment of sectoral regulatory laws in tandem with competition law.
* Effectively carry out competition advocacy and spread the information on benefits of competition among all stakeholders to establish and nurture competition culture in Indian economy.

==Composition==
[[File:The Chairman, Competition Commission of India, Shri Ashok Chawla and the Vice President for Competition, EU, Mr. Joaquin Almunia signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Competition Laws.jpg|alt=Competition Commission of India (CCI)|thumb|Shri Ashok Chawla, former Chairman of the Competition Commission of India, and Mr. Joaquin Almunia Vice-President of the European Commission, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) on Cooperation in the Field of Competition Law on 21st November 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2015-08-03|title=International Cooperation|url=http://cci.gov.in/international-cooperation|access-date=2021-07-22|website=Competition Commission of India,Government of India}}</ref>]]
The Commission comprises a Chairperson and not less than 2 and not more than 6 other members appointed by the Central Government. [[Ashok Kumar Gupta]] is the current Chairperson of the CCI.<ref name="CCI - Organogram">{{cite web|url=http://www.cci.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=117option=com_content&task=view&id=117|title=CCI – Organogram|publisher=Competition Commission of India|access-date=12 October 2013}}</ref> The members of the Competition Commission of India are:

# Dr. Sangeeta Verma
# Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi

== Notable cases ==
* In December 2010, CCI instituted a probe to examine if there was any cartelization among traders when onion prices touched 80 rupees, but did not find sufficient evidence of [[market manipulation]].<ref>{{cite news|title = Competition panel to probe hoarding, onion price rigging|date = 15 August 2013|url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/Competition-panel-to-probe-hoarding-onion-price-rigging/Article1-1108457.aspx|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130816180140/http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/Competition-panel-to-probe-hoarding-onion-price-rigging/Article1-1108457.aspx|url-status = dead|archive-date = 16 August 2013|newspaper = Hindustan Times|edition = New Delhi|first = Mahua|last = Venkatesh|access-date = 16 August 2013}}</ref>
* In June 2012, CCI imposed a fine of {{INRConvert|63.07|b}} 11 cement companies for [[cartel]]isation. CCI claimed that cement companies met regularly to fix prices, control market share and hold back supply which earned them illegal profits.<ref name="Competition Commission of India imposes Rs 63.07 billion penalty on 11 cement companies">{{cite news|title=Competition Commission of India imposes Rs 6,307 crore penalty on 11 cement companies|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-06-22/news/32368892_1_cement-makers-madras-cements-jk-cement|access-date=4 January 2013|newspaper=Economic Times|date=22 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="Busted: 'Cartelising' cement firms">{{cite news|title=Busted: 'Cartelising' cement firms|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/busted-cartelising-cement-firms/478491/|access-date=4 January 2013|newspaper=Business Standard|date=26 June 2012}}</ref>
* In January 2013, CCI modified clauses in agreements between real estate company [[DLF Limited]] and apartment buyers.<ref name="Competition Commission of India modifies DLF-buyer agreements">{{cite news|title=Competition Commission of India modifies DLF-buyer agreements|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/real-estate/news/cci-modifies-dlf-buyer-agreements/articleshow/17879672.cms|access-date=4 January 2013|newspaper=Economic Times|date=4 January 2013}}</ref> Business and finance [[Web portal|Portal]] [[Moneycontrol.com]] welcomed the order saying that, "This is a landmark ruling and will benefit property owners across the country". Some of the important modifications were:
** The Builder cannot undertake any additional construction beyond the approved building plan given to the buyers.<ref name="Competition Commission of India modifies DLF-buyer agreements"/>
** The builder will not have complete ownership of open spaces within the residential project area not sold.<ref name="Competition Commission of India modifies DLF-buyer agreements" />
** Not just the buyer but the builder will be liable for any defaults.<ref name="CCI ruling on DLF: Changing the builder-buyer equation?">{{cite news|title=CCI ruling on DLF: Changing the builder-buyer equation?|url=http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/cci-rulingdlf-changingbuilder-buyer-equation_803652.html|access-date=4 January 2013|newspaper=Money Control|date=4 January 2013}}</ref>
** All payments made by the buyers must be based on construction milestones and not "on demand".<ref name="CCI ruling on DLF: Changing the builder-buyer equation?" />
** The builder will not have the sole power to form the ''owner’s association''.<ref name="CCI ruling on DLF: Changing the builder-buyer equation?" />
* On 8 February 2013, CCI imposed a penalty of {{INRConvert|522|m}} on the [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] (BCCI) for misusing its [[Dominance (economics)|dominant position]]. The CCI found that IPL team ownership agreements were unfair and discriminatory and that the terms of the IPL franchise agreements were loaded in favor of BCCI and franchises had no say in the terms of the contract. The CCI ordered BCCI to "cease and desist" from any practice in future denying market access to potential competitors and not use its regulatory powers in deciding matters relating to its commercial activities.<ref name=SS-Barmi-v-BCCI>{{cite web|title=SS-Barmi-v-BCCI|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/124522532/SS-Barmi-v-BCCI|access-date=8 February 2013|date=8 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="Competition watchdog slaps Rs. 522.4 million fine on BCCI">{{cite web|title=Competition watchdog slaps Rs.52.24 crore fine on BCCI|date=8 February 2013|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/tz5p5j5vkTEYiIanZXE71J/Competition-watchdog-slaps-5224-crore-fine-on-BCCI.html|publisher=Live Mint|access-date=8 February 2013}}</ref>
* In 2014, CCI imposed a fine of ₹10 million upon [[Google]] for failure to comply with the directions given by the Director General seeking information and documents.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=104701 | title=CCI imposes a fine of Rs. 1 Crore upon Google for failure to supply information/ documents in the investigations. | publisher=PIB | date=27 March 2014 | access-date=1 April 2014}}</ref>
*On 25 August 2014, CCI imposed a fine of ₹2544 crores on 14 Indian car manufacturers for failure to provide branded spare parts and diagnostic tools to independent repairers, hampering their ability to repair and maintain certain car models. The companies fined were Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Hindustan Motors, Mercedes Benz and Skoda. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/l7xoA5HRji17Rv2yRLxaHK/CCI-imposes-Rs2554-crore-penalty-on-14-car-makers.html | title=Competition panel fines 14 car makers Rs 2,554 crore | publisher=LiveMint | date=25 August 2014 | access-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>
* On 17 November 2015, CCI imposed a fine of ₹258 crores upon Three Airlines. Competition Commission of India (CCI) had penalized the three airlines for cartelization in determining the fuel surcharge on air cargo. A penalty of Rs 151.69 crores was imposed on [[Jet Airways]], while that on [[IndiGo|InterGlobe Aviation Limited (Indigo)]] and [[SpiceJet]] are Rs 63.74 crores and Rs 42.48 crores respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/companies/cci-imposes-rs-258-crore-fine-on-jet-airways-indigo-spicejet/167006/|title=Cartelisation: CCI imposes Rs 258 crore fine on Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet|date=18 November 2015|access-date=12 November 2016|via=Financial Express}}</ref>
* In May 2017, CCI ordered a probe into the functioning of the Cellular Operators Association of India following a complaint filed by Reliance Jio against the cartelization by its rivals Bharati Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea cellular.
* On 8 February 2018, it had fined Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc. for 135.86 cr rupees for 'search bias'.
* On August 12, 2018, the CCI approved the [[Proposed acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|Disney-Fox deal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://smartinvestor.business-standard.com/market/read-539887-readdet-Fox_Disney_deal_CCI_approves_takeover_of_Murdochs_company_in_India.htm|title=Fox-Disney deal: CCI approves takeover of Murdoch's company in India|last=Malvania|first=Urvi|work=Smart Investor|date=August 12, 2018|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref>
* In July 2018 the Commission imposed fines on the [[Federation of Gujarat State Chemists and Druggists Association]], the Amdavad Chemist Association, the Surat Chemists and Druggists Association, the Chemists and Druggists Association of Baroda, [[Glenmark Pharmaceuticals]], [[Hetero Healthcare]] Ltd, Divine Saviour and their staff and officers for breaches of the Competition Act 2002 by requiring [[No Objection Certificate]]s before appointing stockists.<ref>{{cite news |title=CCI fines chemist and druggist associations and pharma companies |url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=3276c049-0738-4635-82d7-bfbe856cc790 |access-date=11 February 2019 |publisher=Lexology |date=3 January 2019}}</ref>
*In May 2019, [[Umar Javeed, Sukarma Thapar, Aaqib Javeed vs. Google LLC & Ors.]] the commission ordered an antitrust probe against Google for abusing its dominant position with Android to block market rivals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Javeed|first=Umar|date=2021|title=Data and Competition Law: Introducing Data As Non-Monetary Consideration and Competition Concerns in Data-Driven Online Platforms|url=https://www.ssrn.com/abstract=3788178|journal=SSRN Electronic Journal|language=en|doi=10.2139/ssrn.3788178|s2cid=233912862|issn=1556-5068}}</ref> In its Prima Facie opinion the commission held, "Mandatory Pre-installation of entire [[Google Mobile Services]] (GMS) suite under Mobile application distribution agreements MADA amounts to imposition of unfair condition on the device manufacturers. Leveraging of [[Google]]'s dominance in Google [[Google Play|Play store]] to protect relevant markets such as online general search in contravention of Section 4(2)(e) of the [[Competition Act 2002]]".<ref name=":0" />
*In June 2019, CCI issued letters to handset makers seeking details of terms and conditions of their agreement with Google. This is to ascertain if Google imposed any restrictions on them for using the company's apps in the past 8 years from 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/cci-asks-handset-companies-for-info-on-agreements-with-google/articleshow/69867066.cms|title=CCI asks handset companies for info on agreements with Google|last=Aulakh|first=Gulveen|date=2019-06-20|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-06-20}}</ref>
*In December 2021, CCI took a step back from approving Amazon's investment in a Future Group company, which had initially received its nod in November 2019. Amazon has been blamed for concealing the scope and complete information of its investment while seeking for the approval.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bureau|first=The Hindu|date=2021-12-17|title=CCI slaps ₹200 crore fine on Amazon, freezes Future deal|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/cci-slaps-202-crore-penalty-on-amazon-suspends-approval-for-future-coupons-deal/article37978487.ece|access-date=2021-12-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
*On December 31 2021, CCI ordered an investigation into [[Apple Inc.]] business practices, including the company's enforcement of a proprietary payment system, to be conducted within 60 days.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2021-12-31 |title=India antitrust watchdog orders investigation into Apple’s business practices |language=en-US |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/12/31/india-antitrust-watchdog-orders-investigation-into-apples-business-practices/ |access-date=2022-01-02}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== See also ==

* [[National Competition Policy (India)]]

==External links==
* {{official website}} Competition Commission of India
* [https://www.cci.gov.in/competition-act The Competition Act, 2002 – Bare Act]
* [https://www.cci.gov.in/sites/default/files/presentation_document/AdvocSemCuttakHighourt22June2009.pdf?download=1 Overview of Competition Law]

{{Indian commissions}}

[[Category:Indian commissions and inquiries]]
[[Category:Regulatory agencies of India]]
[[Category:Vajpayee administration initiatives]]
[[Category:Competition regulators]]
[[Category:Quasi-judicial bodies of India]]
[[Category:Ministry of Corporate Affairs]]
[[Category:Consumer organisations in India]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Delhi]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2003]]

Competition Commission of India - Revision history

->ASpacemanFalls at 19:02, 2 January 2022