Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: The government is clamping down on digital marketplaces. New amendments to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules will take effect on January 1, 2027. The Department of Consumer Affairs announced these changes to stop price manipulation and deceptive search results.
Companies must now show a prior price during sales. This price represents the lowest cost offered in the 30 days before a discount. The department explained, "The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, will come into force from January 1, 2027."
Search results cannot favor specific items to mislead buyers. Sponsored listings now require clear, prominent labels. Platforms must also follow the 2023 Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns. Every company needs to perform a yearly self-audit and display a compliance certificate.
Grievance management is changing. Firms must share a copy of complaints with users after the grievance officer logs them. Every entity must join the National Consumer Helpline convergence process. Data shows the helpline logged over 1.7 million grievances in 2025. Nearly 30 percent of those cases involved e-commerce disputes.
Platforms must list expiry dates, warranty terms, and return policies clearly. Imported items require the country of origin and importer details. Companies cannot use consumer data without explicit consent. They are also barred from charging bundled fees for unrelated services, excluding standard loyalty programs.
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