India: Antitrust/Competition Law

India’s competition law framework has long recognised follow-on private compensation claims. However, nearly two decades since inception, this remedy remains largely dormant, with only 11 applications filed and just one decided on merits. Compensation applications are now moving towards substantive hearings, the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 (2023 Amendment) has expanded the statutory gateway, and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) is showing growing appetite for technical analysis that compensation adjudication demands.

The Competition Commission of India has issued significant rulings on anti-competitive practices in the transportation and pharmaceutical sectors, while simultaneously approving major corporate restructurings. These decisions address freight rate fixing by transport associations, the closure of proceedings against pharmaceutical industry bodies, and the formation of strategic joint ventures in commodity trading and plastic packaging.

This newsletter highlights significant developments in Indian competition law, featuring key enforcement actions and merger approvals by the Competition Commission of India. From investigations into restrictive practices to major corporate acquisitions across industries, these cases demonstrate the regulator's active role in maintaining market competition and scrutinizing business combinations.