India, Nov. 14 -- The Maharashtra government has moved to regulate the fast-growing direct-selling sector, setting up a committee to draft guidelines for monitoring companies that operate outside traditional retail channels and largely sell online. A government resolution to this effect was issued by the state food and civil supplies department on Thursday.

Direct selling has surged in recent years, with hundreds of firms, and thousands of individual sellers, conducting business through online platforms. Apart from standalone direct-selling firms, major e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart and Myntra have also enabled individuals to run small independent businesses.

But senior officials say the state currently has no framewo...