Archive · 7 Nov 2025
India Plans Market Study for Digital Competition Bill Revival
Imagine big tech companies like Google or Facebook are like giant players in an online playground.
India wants to make sure these giants play fair and don't block smaller companies.
They have a special rulebook, the Digital Competition Bill, but they're not sure if the rules are the best.
So, they're hiring someone to study the playground to see if the rules about who is a 'big player' need to change.
They also want to check if the list of games (digital services) that need watching is right.
This is because some new AI companies are popping up, and some smaller Indian companies worry the rules might stop them from growing.
The study will help make sure the rules are fair and based on what's really happening online.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs plans to hire an agency for a market study on India's Digital Competition Bill (DCB).
The study will examine and potentially revise the financial and user thresholds for identifying Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs), or Big Tech firms.
Current draft thresholds include turnover, gross merchandise value, market capitalization, and user numbers.
Concerns have been raised by domestic startups that current thresholds might inadvertently impact homegrown firms and stifle innovation.
The market study will also review the list of Core Digital Services (CDS) and consider the impact of AI and new competitors like OpenAI.
- Who
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and an appointed agency
- What
- Planning a market study on the Digital Competition Bill (DCB) to evaluate thresholds for identifying Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs) and Core Digital Services (CDS).
- When
- Recently, with the RFP floated to select an agency.
- Where
- India
- Why
- To revise thresholds for identifying Big Tech firms, address concerns from domestic startups about stifling innovation, and consider the impact of Artificial Intelligence on digital markets, ensuring an evidence-based approach to ex-ante regulations.
- Bill Name
- Digital Competition Bill (DCB)
- Regulating Body
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
- Purpose of Study
- To examine thresholds for identifying Big Tech firms and revise if necessary
- Proposed Thresholds (Draft)
- India Turnover > Rs 4,000 Cr, Global Turnover > $30 Bn, GMV > Rs 16,000 Cr, Market Cap > $75 Bn, Users > 10 Mn (end) or 10,000 (business)
- Core Digital Services (CDS)
- Includes search engines, social networking, cloud services, etc. Currently lists nine services.
- Reason for Study
- Stakeholder feedback, domestic startups' concerns about stifling innovation, and evolving AI landscape