In the upcoming two weeks or after the current session of parliament, the union commerce and industry ministry is anticipated to release the e-commerce laws and policy.

The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), which aims to democratize e-commerce in India by allowing buyers and sellers to trade through a single platform, is expected to be covered under the much awaited e-commerce policy.

ONDC is viewed as a significant threat to food delivery services like Swiggy and Zomato.

According to the initial witness to the conversation, the e-commerce policy will be in line with the 2020 Amendment to Consumer Protection (Ecommerce) Rules, which aims to resolve complaints against unfair trade practices. Notably, the regulations aim to restrict flash sales.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that a unanimity is arrived between all stakeholders about basic pillars of E Commerce Policy and Rules.

Khandelwal further added that consumers are being made hostages by foreign funded e-commerce companies and there is a need to liberate them from the vicious clutches of these companies by enacting e-commerce rules and policies.

“It is also necessary to constitute a Regulatory Authority to monitor and regulate e-commerce trade in India. Consumer interest should be first and foremost and no back door loopholes should be allowed. Policy and Rules must be followed by one and all . All e-commerce companies must obtain mandatory registration with DPIIT," Khandelwal said.

Nudging users towards select sellers that offer e-commerce websites high commission is equivalent to cheating the people, consumer affairs minister Piyush Goyal had said.

“.so when an e-commerce site...let’s say uses an algorithm and guides customer choice towards one direction whoever gives them the highest premium or highest commission... I think that is wrong as somebody else is cheating the public in another way," Goyal had said.

The policy also aims to distinguish between the marketplace model and the inventory-led strategy. Rules on backup liability for e-commerce enterprises that provide further clarity on grievance redressals may also be included in the policy.