Competition Commission of India (CCI)

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established under the Competition Act, 2002 (which came into force in phases from 2003–2009) to prevent anti-competitive practices, promote market competition, and protect consumer interests. It replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC), which operated under the MRTP Act, 1969. The CCI consists of a Chairperson and up to six Members, appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee chaired by the Chief Justice of India (or nominee). CCI's key powers include: investigating anti-competitive agreements (Section 3), abuse of dominant position (Section 4), and regulating mergers and acquisitions (Sections 5 and 6). The Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 introduced deal-value thresholds for M&A notifications (transactions above ₹2,000 crore in deal value in India require CCI approval) and reduced the timeline for merger review.