The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCAFPD) on September 09, 2026, issued the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 to further amend the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020.
The following amendments have been stated:
• In the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 (hereinafter referred to as the principal rules) in rule 3, sub-rule (1), for clause (j), the following clause shall be substituted, namely: -
“ j “ranking” means the relative prominence or relevance given to the sellers on the platform or to the goods or services offered through a marketplace e-commerce entity as presented, organised or communicated by such entity, irrespective of the technological means used for such presentation, organisation or communication;”
• In the principal rules, in rule 5, in sub-rule (3), for clauses (a), (c) and (f), the following clauses shall respectively be substituted, namely: -
“(a) details about the sellers offering goods and services, including the name of their business, whether registered or not, their geographic address, customer care number, name and details of its website and email address, where available, any rating or other aggregated feedback about such seller and any other information necessary for enabling consumers to make informed decisions at the pre-purchase stage: Provided that a marketplace e-commerce entity shall, on a request in writing made by a consumer after the purchase of any goods or services on its platform by such consumer, provide him with information regarding the seller from which such consumer has made such purchase, including the principal geographic address of its headquarters and all branches, name and details of its website, its email address and any other information necessary for communication with the seller for effective dispute resolution;
(c) information relating to return, refund, exchange warranty and guarantee, best before or use before date, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal mechanism and any other similar information which may be required by consumers to make informed decisions:
Provided that in respect of food products, the requirement relating to display of best before or use before date shall be subject to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of and the regulations made thereunder;
(f) an explanation of the main parameters in descending order which, individually or collectively are most significant in determining the ranking of goods or sellers on its platform and the relative importance of those main parameters through an easily and publicly available description drafted in plain and intelligible language.”;
• In the principal rules, in rule 7, in sub-rule (1), for clause (a), the following clause shall be substituted, namely: -
“ (a) accurate information related to return, refund, exchange, best before or use before date, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, cost of return shipping, mode of payments, grievance redressal mechanism and any other similar information which may be required by consumers to make informed decisions: Provided that in respect of food products, the requirement relating to display of best before or use before date shall be subject to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) and the regulations made thereunder.”.
They shall come into force with effect from 1st January, 2027.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 789(E)]
