Wide stakeholder consultations required to frame national e-commerce policy: Govt

The minister added that the government has implemented several legislative and policy measures for streamlining and regulating e-commerce industry in the country.

Some of these measures are FDI policy; Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999; Consumer Protection Act, 2019; Competition Act, 2002; and Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

"Provisions of the Competition Act are applicable in respect of e- commerce platforms as provided in Section 3 (Anti-competitive Agreements), Section 4 (Abuse of dominant position) and Section 5 and Section 6 (Mergers and Acquisitions)," Parkash added.

Replying to another question, he said ONDC is operational in more than 500 cities and towns across India.

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an initiative of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) aiming at promoting open networks for all aspects of the exchange of goods and services over digital or electronic networks.

"ONDC strives to expand to all corners of the country by giving special attention and providing handholding to undigitised sellers," he said.