The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is conducting a market study to determine which digital companies and services should be regulated under India's proposed Digital Competition Bill (DCB), according to an RTI response dated October 9, 2026. The study will assess thresholds for identifying large digital enterprises and evaluate the scope of digital services covered by the Bill.
The MCA's request for proposal (RFP) outlines the need to examine how the Bill's rules could impact competition, market entry, and smaller businesses. It also requires a review of international regulatory approaches and strategies to balance competition with innovation. The Ministry provided the RFP and related documents but did not disclose the study's progress or timeline, citing lack of information in the Competition Section.
The draft DCB, published in March 2024, proposes an ex-ante regulatory framework targeting Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs), imposing obligations before anti-competitive conduct occurs. Public comments were invited between March and April 2024. The Standing Committee on Finance has reviewed the draft, reflecting ongoing legislative scrutiny of digital market regulation in India.
The MCA's RTI reply confirms the study's objectives but leaves the timeline and current status undisclosed. The next official update on the Digital Competition Bill's progress is awaited from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, as the government continues to refine its approach to digital market regulation.