ForumIAS announcing GS Foundation Program for UPSC CSE 2025-26 from 10th August. Click Here for more information.
Relevance:
Synopsis:
The EU and countries like the US, Australia, Japan and Singapore, have strict e-commerce regulations. The proposed Draft e-commerce rules are aimed at fulfilling the evolving global architecture.
How are the e-commerce companies governed globally?
- The European Union: In December 2020, the European Commission proposed a digital regulation package consisting of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. The Acts seek to put curbs on large platforms or “gatekeepers”.
- The US: There are federal antitrust laws that discourage anti-competitive behaviour by companies. Apart from that, a new bill was proposed to rein in alleged monopolistic behaviour of big tech companies.
Challenges:
- India’s Manufacturing capacity is limited: In several cases, goods have to be imported because India does not have the manufacturing capability of such products at low cost. So, pushing made-in-India products will not provide cost effective products to consumers.
- Inventory model for e-commerce is allowed in other countries, while it is forbidden in India. Flash sales are not banned elsewhere in the world
Read more:
- Draft e-commerce rules and their challenges – Explained, pointwise
- Draft Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020
Source: Times of India
