Competition Commission of India Amends Commitment Regulations: Key Changes

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has amended the CCI (Commitment) Regulations, 2024, to revise the timelines and procedures governing commitment applications.

Under India’s commitment mechanism, eligible businesses facing allegations of anti-competitive conduct can propose measures to address the competition concerns under examination by the CCI. The mechanism establishes a formal process for submitting and assessing these proposals.

On 18 August 2026, the CCI (Commitment) Amendment Regulations 2026 were notified. The amendments extend the application filing deadline, introduce a defined period for correcting defective applications, and increase the overall timeline for commitment proceedings.

They also clarify how delays in providing required information affect the calculation of the proceedings timeline.

Key changes under the CCI Commitment Amendment Regulations 2026

The amendments revise four main aspects of the commitment mechanism:

1. Application deadlines
2. Correction of defects
3. Preliminary consideration
4. The duration of proceedings.

Area	Earlier requirement	2026 amendment
Commitment application filing deadline	45 days	60 days
CCI’s preliminary consideration period	7 working days	15 working days
Overall commitment proceedings	130 working days	180 working days
Correction of defective applications	No specific correction period identified in the supplied material	10 working days to correct and refile
Fee on refiling	—	Original application fee adjusted against the fee payable on refiling
Time taken to provide information	—	Certain periods excluded from the 180-working-day calculation

According to the CCI’s General Statement, stakeholders broadly supported extending the filing deadline, preliminary consideration period, and overall proceedings timeline.

What are the CCI Commitment Amendment Regulations 2024?

The CCI (Commitment) Regulations 2024 establish procedures for businesses to offer commitments to address alleged violations of India’s competition law. Introduced under the Competition Act, 2002, the regulations apply to enterprises facing an inquiry into alleged anti-competitive agreements involving vertical restraints under Section 3(4) or abuse of dominant position under Section 4.

Within this framework, eligible businesses are allowed to propose measures to address the identified competition concerns during the inquiry process. It sets out the requirements for filing commitment applications, the CCI’s assessment of proposed commitments, the process for inviting objections and suggestions, and the implementation and monitoring of approved commitments. It also specifies the circumstances in which the CCI may reject an application or revoke a commitment order.

The mechanism aims to facilitate quicker market correction and reduce prolonged litigation by addressing competition concerns through commitments, subject to the CCI’s assessment and the applicable legal requirements.

Can businesses file commitment applications at any stage of a CCI investigation?

No. The CCI rejected a proposal to permit commitment applications at any stage before the Director General (DG) submits the investigation report.

The Commission considers early intervention essential to the commitment mechanism’s objectives of correcting market concerns promptly and conserving investigative resources. Consequently, the extended 60-day filing period does not allow businesses to defer their decision indefinitely.

How can businesses correct a defective CCI commitment application?

Applicants have 10 working days from receipt of a returned application to correct the defects or deficiencies identified by the CCI and refile the application.

The original application fee will be adjusted against the fee payable on refiling. Failure to rectify the defects within the prescribed period renders the application invalid.

Businesses should review their applications for completeness before submission and establish an internal process for addressing any deficiencies within the correction window.

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How long does the CCI have to conduct its preliminary assessment?

The CCI’s preliminary consideration period has increased from seven working days to 15 working days. The revised timeline gives the Commission more time to assess commitment applications at the initial stage.

Applicants should factor this period into their case-management plans when estimating the progress of commitment proceedings.

Can CCI commitment proceedings exceed 180 working days?

Yes. The amended regulations exclude the time taken by an applicant or another party to provide required information, clarifications, or responses from the calculation of the prescribed period.

If the CCI does not conclude the proceedings within the applicable period after accounting for these exclusions, the inquiry under Section 26 against the applicant resumes.

Businesses should respond promptly to information requests and monitor applicable deadlines, as permitted exclusions may extend the effective duration of proceedings.

Why did the CCI amend the Commitment Regulations?

The CCI’s General Statement identifies practical issues under the 2024 framework as the primary reason for the amendments. These included:

• The time available for filing commitment applications.
• Procedures for handling defective or deficient applications.
• Adjustment of fees when applicants refile applications.
• Timelines governing commitment proceedings.

The CCI conducted a public consultation on the proposed amendments between 29 May and 29 June 2026. 15 stakeholders, including representatives from academic institutions and the legal fraternity, submitted comments. The Commission considered these submissions before finalising the amendments.

How do the CCI Commitment Amendment Regulations 2026 affect companies operating in India?

Latest update provides businesses with more time to prepare commitment applications and a clearer procedure for correcting defects. At the same time, a longer overall proceedings timeline may affect how companies allocate legal and compliance resources.

Businesses should prioritise early assessment of the commitment mechanism, coordinate their legal and compliance teams, and maintain procedures for responding promptly to the CCI’s requests. Accurate deadline tracking is particularly important because information-related exclusions can affect the effective duration of proceedings.

What should businesses do to prepare for the revised commitment procedures?

Businesses involved in CCI proceedings should take five practical steps:

1. Assess the commitment option early. Determine whether proposed commitments are appropriate for the competition concerns raised.
2. Prepare complete applications. Review submissions for accuracy and completeness before filing.
3. Coordinate internal responses. Ensure legal, compliance, and business teams can provide required information and clarifications promptly.
4. Update deadline-tracking systems. Incorporate the revised filing, correction, preliminary consideration, and proceedings timelines.
5. Monitor ongoing proceedings. Track information requests and account for applicable exclusions when estimating the duration of a case.

Do the 2026 amendments change India’s substantive competition-law requirements?

The changes described above primarily concern the procedures and timelines governing the commitment mechanism. They focus on application processing, correction of deficiencies, and the management of proceedings rather than a substantive overhaul of competition-law requirements.