26 Aug COMPETITION AMENDMENT BILL 2022
Competition Amendment Bill 2022
The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 5, 2022. It seeks to amend the Competition Act, of 2002. The bill has currently been referred to the standing committee for further discussion and analysis.
Difference between the Competition Act 2002 and Competition Amendment Bill 2022
| ASPECT | COMPETITION Act 2002 | COMPETITION AMENDMENT BILL 2022 |
| Regulation of combinations based on transaction value | The Act prohibits any person or enterprise from entering into a combination that may cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition. Combinations imply mergers, acquisitions, or amalgamation of enterprises. The prohibition applies to transactions where the parties involved have:
(I) Cumulative assets of more than Rs 1,000 crore, or (ii) Cumulative turnover of more than Rs 3,000 crore, subject to certain other conditions |
The Bill expands the definition of combinations to include transactions with a value above Rs 2,000 crore. |
| Definition of control for classification of combination: | For classification of combinations, the Act defines control as control over the affairs or management by one or more enterprises over another enterprise or group | The Bill modifies the definition of control as the ability to exercise material influence over management, affairs, or strategic commercial decisions. |
| The time limit for approval of combinations | The Act specifies that any combination shall not come into effect until the CCI has passed an order or 210 days have passed from the day when an application for approval was filed, whichever is earlier. | The Bill reduces the time limit in the latter case to 150 days. |
| Anti-competitive agreements | Under the Act, anti-competitive agreements include any agreement related to the production, supply, storage, or control of goods or services, which can cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India. Any agreement between enterprises or persons, engaged in identical or similar businesses, will have a such adverse effect on competition if it meets certain criteria. These include:
(I) Directly or indirectly determining purchase or sale prices, (ii) Controlling production, supply, markets, or provision of services, or (iii) Directly or indirectly leading to collusive bidding. |
The Bill adds that enterprises or persons not engaged in identical or similar businesses shall be presumed to be part of such agreements if they actively participate in the furtherance of such agreements. |
| Settlement and Commitment in anti-competitive proceedings: | Under the Act, CCI may initiate proceedings against enterprises on grounds of:
(i) Entering into anti-competitive agreements, or (ii) Abuse of dominant position. Abuse of dominant position includes: Discriminatory conditions in the purchase or sale of goods or services
|
The Bill permits CCI to close inquiry proceedings if the enterprise offers:
(i) settlement (may involve payment), or (ii) commitments (may be structural or behavioral in nature). The manner and implementation of settlement and commitment may be specified by CCI through regulations. |
| Relevant product market | The Act defines relevant product markets as products and services which are considered substitutable by the consumer. | The Bill widens this to include the production or supply of products and services considered substitutable by the suppliers. |
| Appointment of Director General | The Act empowers the central government to appoint a Director General to CCI. The Director General assists in conducting inquiries into contraventions of any provisions of the Act. | The Bill amends this to empower the CCI to appoint the Director General, with prior approval of the government. |
| Qualification of members of CCI | As per the Act, the chairperson and members of CCI should have professional experience of at least 15 years in fields such as:
(I) Economics (ii) Competition matters (iii) Law (iv) Management (v) Business. |
The Bill expands this to include experience in the field of technology. |
| Decriminalization of certain offenses | The act has several criminal provisions for the violation. | The Bill changes the nature of punishment for certain offenses from the imposition of fines to penalties. These offenses include failure to comply with orders of CCI and directions of the Director General with regard to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position. |
Way forward
The bill is currently at a very nascent stage. Further amendments will have to be based on keeping in mind administrative fluidity and corporate autonomy.
Download PDF Now:
Plutus IAS current affairs eng med 26th August 2022
References:
IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs are a very crucial part of the strategy of the UPSC exam preparation. Current affairs provide the latest, trading updates on History, Economics, polity, and Social activities.
Every UPSC aspirant should read the current affairs regularly. Current Affairs are important not only for the UPSC examination but also for SSC, Banking, and other competitive examination. Here Plutus IAS provides the best daily current affairs for the UPSC examination free of cost. It is the best coaching center for PSIR optional. So get weekly, and monthly current affairs for IAS exam preparation.
No Comments