A Study on Role of Cartels in Market Manipulations and Impact on Consumers in India

Cartels represent a significant challenge to competitive markets and economic welfare worldwide. This research aims to explore the causes of Cartel and to find the best method to prevent the Cartel in Market .The research focuses on the causes and consequences of Cartel, as well as the various measures that have been taken to address this issue. Cartels play a significant role in market manipulation, often leading to adverse effects on consumers .The paper begins by defining cartels and discussing their detrimental effects on market competition, such as inflated prices, reduced consumer choice, and stifled innovation. It then examines the historical context of cartel activity in India, tracing its evolution and identifying key sectors prone to cartelization, including cement, automotive etc .The abstract explores the regulatory framework governing cartels in India, primarily under the Competition Act, 2002, and the role of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in detecting and penalizing anti-competitive behaviour. It discusses notable cases where the CCI has taken action against cartels. In this study, convenience method of sampling was used and the sample size was 180 The tool used was a structured questionnaire and the data was collected from the public the research has shown that 63.7% of people has told that the cartel is Anti-competition law and 68.3% of people has told that cartel affect consumers in India.