logo
Competition Commission issues norms to assess predatory pricing practices

Competition Commission issues norms to assess predatory pricing practices

The Print08-05-2025

After stakeholders' consultations, the Competition Commission of India (Determination of Cost of Production) Regulations, 2025 have been notified.
As part of efforts to update the framework for assessing predatory pricing, the watchdog came out with the draft rules in February.
New Delhi, May 7 (PTI) Competition Commission of India (CCI) has notified the regulations for determining the cost of production, a move that will help the watchdog to more effectively assess alleged predatory pricing and deep discounting practices especially in the quick commerce and e-commerce segments.
The development also assumes significance against the backdrop of CCI looking at some complaints of unfair business practices made against quick commerce as well as e-commerce players.
Competition law prohibits predatory pricing as an abusive conduct by a dominant enterprise.
CCI now has a strong regulatory framework to deal with alleged predatory pricing and deep discounting activities in the market place. It will also help in assessing the complaints against some quick commerce and e commerce entities.
Rather than prescribing sector-specific metrics, the new framework allows for case-by-case assessment. This will enable the watchdog to consider the unique features and evolving dynamics of digital markets when evaluating alleged predatory conduct, the regulator said in a background note about the regulations.
'Some stakeholders expressed concern that the draft regulations lack clarity on how the Commission will assess costs in different sectors viz. digital markets. In response, the Commission notes that the Cost Regulations 2025 establish a sector-agnostic, cost-based framework that is flexible and adaptable to various industries, including the digital economy,' it said.
A few stakeholders advocated for retaining market value as an alternative cost benchmark, especially in markets where pricing may diverge from internal costs due to cross subsidisation, high fixed costs, and advertising-based models.
In response, CCI said while market value may help contextualise pricing dynamics, it does not constitute a cost benchmark, as it reflects external factors like consumer willingness to pay and perceived value.
'The draft regulations maintain a cost-based assessment framework grounded in measurable production costs, consistent with international best practices and jurisprudence,' as per the background note.
CCI decided to review the cost regulations 2009 wherein certain changes were proposed to keep the regulations in sync with the evolution of competition law jurisprudence.
'The review of these regulations is aimed to align them with modern economic theories, judicial interpretations, and international competition law practices,' it noted. PTI RAM TRB
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jaishankar meets European Commission chief von der Leyen in Belgium
Jaishankar meets European Commission chief von der Leyen in Belgium

The Print

time19 minutes ago

  • The Print

Jaishankar meets European Commission chief von der Leyen in Belgium

'Pleased to call on @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen this morning. Welcomed her strong condemnation of terrorist attack in Pahalgam and solidarity in combatting terrorism,' he said in an X post. Jaishankar called on the top EU leader during his visit to Belgium and Luxembourg. Brussels, Jun 10 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen here and praised her 'strong condemnation' of the Pahalgam attack and solidarity in combating terrorism. The April 22 Pahalgam terror attack claimed 26 lives, following which tensions between India and Pakistan escalated. India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7. During the meeting, Jaishankar and von der Leyen also discussed efforts that are underway to deepen the India-EU partnership. 'Agreed on the potential benefits of stronger cooperation in trade, technology, connectivity and security for both our regions,' Jaishankar added. Von der Leyen also took to X after the meeting and said, 'The EU-India strategic partnership is getting stronger.' 'We're working on a Strategic Agenda based on growth with an ambitious FTA, tech & innovation and security & defence. I look forward to adopting it with @narendramodi at our next Summit,' she said. In June 2022, India and the 27-nation bloc resumed negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, an investment protection agreement and a pact on Geographical Indications after a gap of over eight years. The negotiations stalled in 2013 due to differences over the level of opening up of the markets. On February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission chief agreed to seal the much-awaited free trade deal by the end of this year. Jaishankar met members of the European Parliament on Monday along with the Indian Ambassador to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg, Saurabh Kumar. In a post on X, he said it was 'good to meet' David McAllister, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Sandro Gozi, Chair of the Delegation to EU-UK Parliamentary Assembly, and Greek parliamentarian Nikos Papandreou. The meetings followed an interaction with members of the Indian community on Monday evening. Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held wide-ranging discussions with his Belgium counterpart Maxime Prevot on deepening bilateral cooperation, including in trade, investment, technology, defence and security, clean energy and mobility. During his week-long tour of Europe, Jaishankar will also hold talks with leaders of the European Union and France to boost bilateral ties and reaffirm India's policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism. PTI GRS GRS GRS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

'India projected to maintain fastest growth rate': World Bank holds FY26 growth at 6.3%; global growth rate forecast cut to 2.3%
'India projected to maintain fastest growth rate': World Bank holds FY26 growth at 6.3%; global growth rate forecast cut to 2.3%

Time of India

time23 minutes ago

  • Time of India

'India projected to maintain fastest growth rate': World Bank holds FY26 growth at 6.3%; global growth rate forecast cut to 2.3%

India will remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2025–26 with a projected GDP expansion of 6.3%, the World Bank said in its latest Global Economic Prospects report, while warning that rising global trade barriers and weaker demand from key export partners are likely to dampen external sector momentum. The projection for India remains unchanged from the World Bank's April estimate but marks a downward revision from the earlier January forecast of 6.7%. The multilateral lender cited subdued industrial growth and soft export demand as key reasons for the downgrade, though construction, services and rural consumption were seen holding steady, PTI reported. 'India is projected to maintain the fastest growth rate among the world's largest economies,' the World Bank stated, noting that even with the pressures on trade, the Indian economy's fundamentals remain relatively strong. The global outlook, however, was more pessimistic. The World Bank cut its forecast for global GDP growth in 2025 to 2.3%, down from 2.7% in January. It described this as the weakest performance in 17 years outside of full-blown recessions, attributing the slowdown to policy uncertainty and fragmentation in trade relations—particularly amid heightened tariff actions by the US under President Donald Trump. The Bank also said that average global growth in the first seven years of the 2020s could be the slowest since the 1960s if current conditions persist. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Around 70% of global economies saw their forecasts revised down across all regions and income levels. For India, the World Bank expects GDP growth to accelerate slightly to an average of 6.6% over FY27–28, aided by a rebound in exports, especially in services, and continued momentum in construction and consumption. Last week, the Reserve Bank of India retained its GDP forecast for FY26 at 6.5%, citing macroeconomic resilience amid global headwinds. World Bank analysts added that resolving current trade disputes—potentially by halving tariff levels—could raise global growth by 0.2 percentage points over 2025 and 2026. They advised developing economies to diversify trade and pursue broader liberalization to counter the fallout from protectionist measures. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

UP to launch kalanamak rice research centre with IRRI to boost exports
UP to launch kalanamak rice research centre with IRRI to boost exports

Business Standard

time37 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

UP to launch kalanamak rice research centre with IRRI to boost exports

Uttar Pradesh plans to establish a research centre for premium 'Kalanamak rice' in partnership with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to boost production and exports of the aromatic grain sold at Rs 250-300 per kg in the domestic market. The research facility in Siddharthnagar district will focus on developing pest-resistant varieties and improving seed quality for the speciality rice, which has been cultivated since 600 BC and holds a coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag, State Minister for Industrial Development Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi told PTI. "We are in the process of setting up the centre. The aim is to revive and expand the area under cultivation as well as export of Kalanamak rice," Nandi said. The state government targets expanding cultivation area to 1,00,000 hectares in the 2025-26 kharif season starting next month, from 82,000 hectares previously, as demand grows for the black-husked grain known for its distinctive aroma and higher antioxidant content compared to regular rice varieties. Production reached 32.8 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 season with average yields of 4 tonnes per hectare, according to state data. Uttar Pradesh exported about 500 tonnes of Kalanamak rice last year to Singapore and Nepal, with growing interest from Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Japan, where the grain's historical connection to Buddha adds cultural appeal. The rice, also called "Buddha rice", is linked to a Buddhist legend claiming Lord Buddha gifted it to people in Kapilvastu as a blessing. The state has designated Kalanamak rice as a flagship product under its One District One Product initiative and established a processing facility with 80 per cent government funding to support export readiness through grading, packing and post-harvest services. Schemes, including Marketing Development Assistance and the Gateway Port Scheme, provide logistics support and funding to exporters for international trade fair participation. The non-basmati variety is cultivated exclusively during the monsoon season to maintain grain quality and sold for Rs 250-300 per kg in domestic markets, significantly higher than regular rice varieties. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store