Competition Commission of India:
The CCI raided GroupM, Dentsu, IPG Mediabrands, and the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF) for allegedly fixing IPL ad rates and discounts.
- Established in 2009 under the Competition Act, 2002, the CCI became fully operational on May 20, 2009, when substantive provisions related to anti-trust enforcement and merger regulation came into force.
- Initially conceptualised in 2003, it replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act (MRTP), 1969, aligning with India’s post-liberalization economic reforms.
- It is headed by a Chairperson and six members appointed by the Central Government, ensuring expertise in law, economics, finance, and international trade.
- The members must have at least 15 years of professional experience and serve a five-year term, fostering informed decision-making in complex market cases.
- Functions of CCI:
- Preventing anti-competitive practices: It investigates and penalizes cartels, price-fixing and market manipulation.
- In 2022, the CCI imposed a ₹1,337 crore penalty on Google for abusing its dominance in the Android ecosystem.
- Regulating abuse of dominance: It also prevents companies from using market power unfairly, such as through predatory pricing or restrictive trade practices.
- CCI’s probe into Apple’s in-app payment monopoly.
- It ensures mergers do not create monopolies or reduce competition.
- CCI’s scrutiny of Jio-Star India merger to prevent media dominance.
- It monitors unfair trade practices to protect consumer rights and market fairness.
- It provides opinions on competition issues when referred by statutory authorities.
