India: Cartels, Monopolies

An analysis of India’s competition-law whistleblower and lesser-penalty regime, examining the CCI’s treatment of self-reporting, the 2026 HP India orders, leniency conditions, corporate compliance and lessons from international cartel cases.

This edition of the Competition Law Newsletter covers significant developments in Indian competition law, including landmark decisions from the Supreme Court, NCLAT, and the Competition Commission of India. The newsletter examines enforcement actions against major corporations, merger approvals involving international players, and a Parliamentary Committee's recommendations for strengthening competition regulation in India.

This comprehensive monthly update examines significant competition law developments in India, including a landmark bid-rigging case involving HP India and its resellers, IndiGo's commitment application addressing operational disruptions, and the CCI's analysis of pricing practices in online food delivery platforms. The edition also covers major merger approvals in the power generation and automotive components sectors.

Competition law in India starts with a simple idea: free, fair markets work better for everyone. They push companies to be efficient, help consumers, and keep innovation alive.

Competition law, or antitrust law, is at the heart of any modern market economy: it ensures that markets work without their beneficial workings being compromised by monopoly power, cartelization, or exclusionary practices.

In a climate where every unsuccessful bidder is quick to cry "cartel", the Gauhati High Court has reaffirmed the narrow corridor for judicial interference in public tender collusion.

In April 2023, the Indian Parliament passed the Competition Amendment Act, 2023 ("Amendment Act"), to amend the Competition Act, 2002 ("Competition Act").

On October 16, 2023, the Competition Commission of India ("CCI") published the draft CCI (Lesser Penalty) Regulations ("Draft LPR") inviting public comments.

The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Amendment) was recently approved by both houses of Parliament in India and thereafter received the assent of the President to become the Competition...