- Why in news
- On 9 February 2026, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs told Lok Sabha that CCI registered 54 antitrust matters and received 149 merger filings in 2025, and listed reforms under the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023.
- What it is
- The Competition Act, 2002 prohibits anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance, and regulates mergers (combinations). It is enforced by the Competition Commission of India, which replaced the MRTP Commission. The 2023 amendment updated the law for digital markets and faster enforcement.
- Penalty basis
- The 2023 amendment allows penalty to be calculated on global turnover of the person or enterprise.
- Merger review time
- The time limit for approval of combinations was cut from 210 days to 150 days.
- Green Channel
- The Green Channel route gives deemed approval of a combination on filing notice with CCI.
- Penalty guidelines
- CCI notified the Determination of Monetary Penalty Guidelines, 2024 giving a detailed penalty methodology.
- Legal basis
- CCI is a statutory body set up under the Competition Act, 2002; it replaced the MRTP Commission.
Don’t confuse with MRTP Act vs Competition Act: MRTP Act, 1969 controlled monopolies and restrictive trade practices; the Competition Act, 2002 replaced it with a focus on promoting competition.
Don’t confuse with Antitrust vs combination: Antitrust covers anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominance; combinations are mergers, acquisitions and amalgamations above thresholds.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Global-turnover penalties make fines a stronger deterrent against large multinationals.
- Shorter merger timelines and Green Channel approval ease doing business.
Problems
- Digital and AI markets raise algorithmic collusion, self-preferencing and lock-in that are hard to detect.
- Heavy caseloads and appeals can delay final orders.
Way forward
- Build CCI's technical capacity and coordinate with other regulators and countries.
- Encourage self-audit of AI systems for competition compliance and greater transparency.
Put in your answer
AI market study concerns: The study flagged algorithmic collusion, self-preferencing and AI-enabled price discrimination.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
With reference to the Competition Act, 2002 and the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023, which one of the following statements is correct?
Select the correct answer.
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 allows CCI to calculate penalty on the basis of global turnover.
True. Penalty can be based on global turnover.
2.The 2023 amendment introduced a settlement and commitment framework for faster resolution of competition cases.
True. Settlement and commitment framework was introduced.
3.Under the Green Channel route, a combination is deemed approved upon filing notice with CCI.
True. Deemed approval upon filing of notice.
4.The Competition Commission of India was established under the MRTP Act, 1969.
False. CCI was established under the Competition Act, 2002, replacing the MRTP Commission.
5.The Competition Act, 2002 prohibits anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position and regulates combinations.
True. These are the core areas of the Act.
6.The Market Study on AI and Competition was conducted by the Reserve Bank of India.
False. It was undertaken by the Competition Commission of India.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.