- MeitY has called a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the proposed Digital Competition Bill on June 13.
- The Bill aims to regulate anti-competitive behavior by Big Tech firms in India.
- Industry players express concerns, while start-ups support the Bill for fostering a fair digital economy.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has scheduled a meeting on June 13 to discuss the proposed Digital Competition Bill with industry stakeholders. This meeting, also attended by officials from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, aims to address concerns surrounding the Bill, which seeks to regulate competition in digital markets.
The Digital Competition Bill, finalized by a high-level committee led by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs Secretary, calls for pre-emptive measures to curb anti-competitive behavior by large digital enterprises in India. After a year of consultations, the draft Bill was made public for feedback, with the latest deadline for comments extended to May 15.
Big Tech firms have raised concerns that the Bill could hinder competition and innovation. Industry associations like Nasscom have requested further discussions on the proposed regulations. Conversely, domestic start-ups and the Alliance of Digital India Foundation support the Bill, believing it will curb Big Tech dominance and promote a fair digital economy.
According to sources, the draft Bill is in the initial phase of consultations. Further discussions are expected before it is finalized and presented to the Cabinet, potentially in the Winter Session of Parliament.
