Regulation of E-Commerce in India under Consumer Protection Act, 2019: An Overview

The Indian e-commerce sector has secured 9th rank in cross-border growth in the world. According to Payoneer report, as most Indians buyers have started shopping online rather than coming outside of their houses, the Indian e-commerce sector has witnessed such remarkable increase. India's e-commerce festive sale season from October 15 to November 15 in 2020 recorded Rs. 58,000 crore (US$ 8.3 billion) worth of gross sales for brands and sellers. E-commerce comes with not only growth and development but also risks and damages to people and their money. Delhi Police had arrested five fraudsters who busted a scam in which multiple fake e-commerce websites had been used to loot more than 10,000 people for more than Rs 25 crore within last three years. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (hereinafter Act of 2019) has incorporated chapters, provisions, regulations in order to curb malpractices, frauds and offences in this area and determine the liability of such misdeeds. For this purpose, the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 are framed to give effect the Act of 2019.