Empirical Analysis of Competition Law Enforcement in India

A Case Study of the District Varanasi (UP)

Abstract

India ranked 40th in the 2023 Global Competitiveness Index (GCI). This is a drop from 37th in the previous year. Although India is recognised as a major global economy, it faces challenges in creating a strong competition framework. These issues raise concerns for antitrust policy and enforcement. Antitrust laws in India are still in a relatively early stage. Limited understanding of their scope and application leads to ambiguous business practices. As a result, enterprises often operate at the boundary intersection of legitimate competitive and anti-competitive behaviour. This makes regulatory intervention complex. India has seen many cartel cases in sectors such as cement, telecommunications, and aviation. The number of such cases continues to rise. In the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), algorithm-driven business models make it harder to detect anti-competitive conduct. This study explores awareness and understanding of antitrust laws among consumers, students, and small business owners in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Although the Competition Act, 2002 aims to promote fair competition and protect consumers. However, the lack of public awareness of its provisions and enforcement mechanisms limits its effectiveness. Using a structured questionnaire administered to 113 respondents, the study measures and assesses awareness of the Competition Act, knowledge of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), and the ability to identify anti-competitive practices. Statistical tools such as chi-square analysis were used to assess competition law awareness at the grassroots level. The study concludes by highlighting key findings and offering recommendations based on the empirical analysis.