Parliamentary panel calls for notification of e-commerce policy to address sector’s ‘strategy vacuum’
Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce has asked the government to notify the National E-Commerce Policy at the earliest.
The committee has released the report titled ‘Promotion and Regulation of E-Commerce in India’. The report highlights the absence of a dedicated policy towards e-commerce in India.
This has resulted in fragmented and ineffective regulation of the sector. Also, a strategic vacuum has also been created in this sector.
The Committee noted that the draft e-commerce policy submitted in 2019 is still in the inter-ministerial consultation stage.
E-commerce or electronic commerce refers to the “buying and selling of goods and services by companies and individuals through the Internet”.
The e-commerce market in India is expected to reach US$ 350 billion by 2030.
Why E-Commerce Policy is needed:
- Overall development of the e-commerce sector in line with the existing policies of Make in India and Digital India, and
- To achieve the goals of infrastructure development, uniform regulation, increase in exports etc.
Concerns related to e-commerce policy:
- MNCs are opposing data localization;
- Paying less attention to the development of e-commerce sector in rural areas etc.
Key recommendations of the report
- Protection of consumer rights and privacy should be ensured by establishing a pro-consumer regulatory framework and a robust grievance redressal mechanism.
- Strict enforcement of anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy measures should be ensured.
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) should frame a specific skill development indo strategy keeping in view the diverse needs across e-commerce value chains.
Source – The Hindu
