E-commerce policy, consumer protection rules are works in progress: DPIIT secretary

 

Explaining that government will keep the consumer’s interest to the fore while framing the regulations, DPIIT secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said no final view has been taken on any institutional framework.
 The e-commerce policy for online retailers and the e-commerce rules to protect consumers are works in progress, newly appointed Department for the promotion of Industry and internal trade (DPIIT) secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said adding that the draft regulations would first be discussed in public before the government would take a final view.

“We are holding discussions to harmonise e-commerce policy and e-commerce rules under the Consumer Protection Act,” he told reporters on Thursday.

Explaining that government will keep the consumer’s interest to the fore while framing the regulations, he said, no final view has been taken on any institutional framework.

The e-commerce policy and e-commerce rules both would be “congruent” with each other, he added.

The two guidelines are awaited for about four years due to the evolving nature of e-tailing business and online commerce.
While the e-commerce policy (aims at regulating online business entities) is being framed by DPIIT in the ministry of commerce and industry; the e-commerce rules (meant to protect online consumers) are being prepared by the department of consumer affairs in the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution. Both ministries are headed by Piyush Goyal.