India, Sept. 11 -- E-commerce companies will face tighter consumer protection requirements from January 1, 2027, with the government mandating greater transparency in search results, sponsored listings, price cuts and country of origin labelling, besides requiring platforms to integrate with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH).

The Department of Consumer Affairs Thursday announced the amendment of the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, saying the changes are aimed at strengthening consumer protection while balancing the need for ease of doing business.

A key change requires "every e-commerce entity to become a partner in the convergence process of the NCH, integrating platforms more closely with the government's consumer grievance...