The Indian government has amended the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 to address issues like search result manipulation, dark patterns, fake sponsored listings, and price transparency on online marketplaces and quick commerce platforms. The Consumer Protection (E-commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 will take effect from January 1, 2027, the Department of Consumer Affairs announced.
Under the new rules, e-commerce platforms must become convergence partners of the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), a programme launched in 2006 to resolve consumer complaints before they reach courts. The amendments require platforms to provide complainants with a copy of their complaint as recorded by grievance officers. Additionally, e-commerce entities are banned from manipulating search results in ways that mislead users or reduce the relevance of results to their queries, according to medianama.com.
The changes come amid rising consumer complaints against e-commerce platforms, with nearly 20 lakh filed through the NCH over the past five years. In 2025 alone, 5.1 lakh complaints were lodged, a 16% increase from the previous year. Flipkart, Amazon, and Meesho accounted for the majority of complaints last year, with 1.33 lakh, 91,248, and 29,284 respectively. The amendments aim to enhance transparency and consumer protection in the rapidly growing e-commerce sector.
The amended rules will be enforced starting January 1, 2027, marking a significant regulatory step to improve accountability and consumer trust in India’s online marketplaces, as reported by medianama.com.