A parliamentary panel has called for comprehensive reforms to the Competition Commission of India's regulatory framework, urging the regulator to periodically review its regulations and improve transparency in penalty calculations. According to reports from Business Standard, the parliamentary panel on subordinate legislation tabled its 257th report in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, examining four key competition regulations and guidelines notified in 2024. The committee stressed that competition laws must keep pace with rapid changes in digital markets to ensure the Indian market remains competitive, fair and aligned with global standards.
MP for Raichur G. Kumar Naik has urged the Union government and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to undertake periodic market studies in strategically important sectors to prevent excessive market concentration and safeguard consumer interests, employment and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In a statement issued on Monday, Mr. Naik said that in response to a question raised by him in Parliament, the government had informed him that while the CCI had conducted a comprehensive market study of the telecom sector during 2020-21, it had not undertaken a similar sector-wide study of concentration or oligopolistic trends in the cement industry. According to the government's reply, the CCI had examined 29 merger cases in the telecom sector and 15 in the cement sector during the past decade, besides ordering investigations and passing enforcement orders.
Both telecom and cement sectors have witnessed significant consolidation over the years, with the telecom sector shrinking from more than 13 mobile operators to four major players following mergers and market exits. As reported by Mr. Naik, the cement industry has also become increasingly concentrated, with UltraTech Cement and the Adani Group accounting for a substantial market share in several regions. The telecom market study had concluded that the existing level of vertical integration was generally perceived by stakeholders as pro-competitive and not posing any immediate competition concerns, but Mr. Naik contended that consolidation has affected employment, public finances and consumers, leading to job losses, mounting debt in the industry and concerns over rising tariffs and service quality.
The standing committee chaired by MP Murli Deora emphasized the need for adequate protection of small businesses, stating that the CCI must provide protection to them and ensure laws are enforced with greater vigour to prevent the least advantaged from being further disadvantaged by unfair or anti-competitive conduct. As reported by Business Standard, the panel raised concerns about protocols for dealing with companies with repeated and persistent violations, particularly certain Big Tech companies, warning that such repeated contraventions risk being internalized as mere 'cost of doing business' and severely undermining deterrent effects of laws and regulations.
As of March 31, 2026, the total penalty imposed by the CCI stood at ₹20,378.65 crore, of which ₹18,299.78 crore has been either stayed or quashed by appellate courts. According to Business Standard, the total realisable amount of penalty is ₹2,078.87 crore, out of which ₹2,039.36 crore has been recovered. The CCI informed the panel that out of 1,375 antitrust cases received till date, 1,237 had been disposed of. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs noted that there is only one case of commitment pertaining to online gaming, which has not been taken to its final conclusion due to the ban on online gaming.
