India’s competition watchdog, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), cracked down hard in 2025, launching investigations into 54 instances of anti-competitive behavior. Corporate Affairs Minister of State Harsh Malhotra shared these figures in a Lok Sabha reply, also noting 149 M&A filings processed by the regulator.
Looking back, 2024 saw the CCI delivering final judgments in 38 such cases and approving 146 merger proposals. This steady pace reflects the maturing enforcement mechanism under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Major legislative strides include the implementation of the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023. Enacted last April, it introduced global turnover-based fines to penalize violators more effectively, replacing earlier turnover caps that often fell short for multinational giants.
The newly notified CCI Guidelines on Monetary Penalties, 2024, provide a structured approach to fines, factoring in violation gravity, duration, and market impact. This move addresses long-standing calls for clearer penalty norms.
Efficiency gains are evident in revised timelines: merger approvals now take just 150 days, down from 210. Novel mechanisms like settlements and commitments allow parties to resolve issues swiftly without full trials. The Green Channel fast-tracks innocuous deals, cutting red tape for genuine business expansions.
Malhotra’s update paints a picture of a dynamic regulator adapting to modern economic challenges. With digital markets booming and global integrations rising, these updates ensure India’s competition law remains agile and effective.