National e-commerce policy nearing finalization

23 August 2023, Mumbai

The Commerce and Industry Ministry is finalizing the national e-commerce policy:

• No more drafts will be issued for public feedback.
• The policy will be presented to the highest levels of government for final approval.
• The policy will consider the interests of all stakeholders, including investors, manufacturers, MSMEs, traders, retailers, startups, and consumers.
• The policy will aim to create a conducive environment for the holistic and harmonious growth of the e-commerce sector.
• The policy will also address data localization and other regulatory concerns.

Background

The ministry had previously released two drafts of the national e-commerce policy in 2018 and 2019.

The 2019 draft covered six key aspects of the e-commerce ecosystem: data, infrastructure development, e-commerce marketplaces, regulatory concerns, stimulation of the domestic digital economy, and promotion of exports through e-commerce.

The draft included discussions on measures such as cross-border data flow restrictions, handling sensitive data locally before storing it abroad, measures to combat the sale of counterfeit goods, restricted items, and pirated content.

Current status

The ministry has held extensive discussions with representatives from e-commerce companies and a domestic traders' association on the proposed policy. A significant level of consensus has been reached among the concerned parties. The focus is now on obtaining final approval for the policy.

Next steps

• The policy will be presented to the highest levels of government for final approval.
• The policy will be implemented once it is approved by the government.

Short Message

The national e-commerce policy is a significant step towards regulating the e-commerce sector in India. The policy is expected to create a conducive environment for the growth of the sector and protect the interests of all stakeholders.

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