India: Dodd-Frank, Consumer Protection Act

The question of whether the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Authority (RERA) has jurisdiction over completed projects with pending defect liability periods presents a nuanced legal position. Based on authoritative judicial precedents and statutory interpretation, RERA generally does not have jurisdiction over projects that have already received completion certificates, even if the 5-year defect liability period under Section 14(3) of the RERA Act, 2016 is still ongoing.

On June 01, 2026, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued a significant order against Physicswallah Limited (hereinafter referred to as Party), the EdTech unicorn behind the pw.live platform, finding it guilty of deploying three distinct dark patterns. The matter taken up suo moto by CCPA culminated in a penalty of INR 5,00,000 and a binding direction to eliminate all dark patterns from the platform immediately.

Dark patterns fall through the cracks of consumer protection law, where enforcement stays weak and penalties trivial. This article argues that when a dominant enterprise deploys such patterns, Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2002 applies concurrently, not as an alternative, giving CCI a stronger deterrent role alongside sectoral regulators.

Imagine you are in a restaurant with your family, enjoying the meal. When the bill arrives, it shocks you at how much extra you have been charged for bringing the food to your table.

Do you remember the moment of buying your last physical book or a vinyl record or a video game cartridge? Had you entered a store and exchanged money for the item which you got home and the object belonged to you.

Over the past three decades, the Indian banking and financial sector has undergone significant transformation in its consumer grievance redressal framework. The Banking Ombudsman mechanism has evolved from a limited administrative system addressing basic service complaints into a centralised, technology-driven, quasi-judicial mechanism. These changes reflect the evolving regulatory philosophy of the Reserve Bank of India (“RBI”), shaped by economic liberalisation, expansion of financial markets, and rapid technological advancement.

The RBI on 14th January, 2026 released the Internal Ombudsman Directions for Credit Information Companies, and only days after on 16th January 2026 released the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.

This article examines the recent judgement of the Hon'ble Kerala High Court in the case of Actor Mohanlal Vishwanath vs. State of Kerala and Anr.

This article examines the order of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), Bihar, imposing a monetary penalty on M/s Alphabet Infra Pvt. Ltd.