Compete Freely. Compete Lawfully.

Competition law is one of the most powerful — and least anticipated — areas of Indian regulation. A single clause in a distribution agreement, an informal understanding with a rival, or an unnotified acquisition can attract an investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), with penalties running into a significant share of turnover.

At Kavach, an initiative of Advonet Network, we provide complete competition law compliance services — merger control filings, advisory on anti-competitive agreements and practices, and representation before the CCI. Our team combines competition specialists with the insider perspective of former officials who understand exactly how regulators think.

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What Is Competition Law?

Competition law — known internationally as antitrust law — exists to keep markets free, fair, and open. In India, it is governed by the Competition Act, 2002, enforced by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), with appeals lying to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

The law replaced India's older anti-monopoly framework (the MRTP Act) with a modern regime focused not on the size of a business, but on its conduct. Being large or dominant is perfectly lawful — abusing that position is not.

Competition law in India rests on three pillars:

  • Anti-competitive agreements — prohibiting cartels, price-fixing, bid-rigging, and other agreements that harm competition.

  • Abuse of dominant position — prohibiting a dominant enterprise from exploiting or excluding others unfairly.

  • Combinations (merger control) — requiring larger mergers, acquisitions, and amalgamations to be notified to and approved by the CCI.

Most businesses discover competition law only when an investigation begins. Kavach makes sure you know the lines long before you go near them.

Our Competition Law Compliance Services

Kavach offers end-to-end CCI compliance and antitrust advisory for businesses of every size. Our core services include:

Merger Control & Combination Filings

Assessment of whether your transaction crosses the notification thresholds, and end-to-end preparation and filing of the combination notice before the CCI — for mergers, acquisitions, and amalgamations.

Anti-Competitive Agreements Advisory

Review of your distribution, supply, licensing, and pricing arrangements to make sure they don't amount to anti-competitive agreements — including horizontal arrangements like cartels and vertical restraints like resale price maintenance.

Abuse of Dominance Advisory

Guidance for businesses with significant market presence on what conduct could be seen as abuse of a dominant position — from unfair pricing to exclusionary practices.

Competition Compliance Programmes

Internal competition-compliance policies, employee training, and audits — building a defensible compliance culture and reducing the risk of an inadvertent violation.

CCI Investigations & Representation

Representation before the Competition Commission of India and its Director General during investigations, and in appeals before the NCLAT — backed by the advocates of Advonet Network.

Leniency Applications

Confidential guidance where a business needs to approach the CCI under the leniency regime in relation to cartel conduct.

Competition Risk Audits

Periodic audits of your agreements, conduct, and market position to identify anti-competitive practices before a complaint or investigation ever arises.

Understanding Competition Law in India

What are Anti-Competitive Agreements?

Anti-competitive agreements are arrangements between businesses that harm competition. They fall into two broad types:

  • Horizontal agreements — between competitors at the same level, such as price-fixing, market sharing, output limitation, and bid-rigging. These are treated as cartels and are the most seriously punished.

  • Vertical agreements — between businesses at different levels of the supply chain, such as exclusive supply or distribution arrangements, refusal to deal, and resale price maintenance. These are assessed by their actual effect on competition.

What is Abuse of Dominant Position?

Dominance itself is not illegal — abusing it is. Abuse includes imposing unfair prices or conditions, limiting production or technical development, denying market access to rivals, and using dominance in one market to enter or protect another.

Antitrust vs Anti-Monopoly — What's the Difference?

They describe the same broad idea. Anti-monopoly laws was the language of India's older MRTP regime, focused on curbing concentration of economic power. Modern antitrust or competition law, under the Competition Act, 2002, focuses instead on anti-competitive conduct and its effect on markets and consumers.

What Is Merger Control?

Larger transactions that cross prescribed asset or turnover thresholds are treated as "combinations" and must be notified to the CCI before completion. The CCI reviews whether the deal is likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.

Frequently asked questions

What is competition law in India?

Competition law in India is governed by the Competition Act, 2002, and enforced by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). It prohibits anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position, and regulates large mergers and acquisitions.

What are anti-competitive agreements?

They are agreements that harm competition — including horizontal ones between competitors (price-fixing, bid-rigging, market sharing) and vertical ones along the supply chain (exclusive dealing, resale price maintenance). Such agreements are void in law.

What is the difference between antitrust and anti-monopoly laws?

They refer to the same broad area. "Anti-monopoly" reflects the older MRTP-era focus on concentration of economic power, while modern antitrust or competition law focuses on anti-competitive conduct and its effect on the market.

When do I need to notify a merger to the CCI?

When a transaction crosses the prescribed asset or turnover thresholds, it becomes a notifiable "combination" and must be approved by the CCI before completion. Kavach assesses this at the outset so you never close a deal that should have been notified.

What happens if the CCI investigates my business?

The CCI's Director General can investigate, gather evidence, and even conduct search operations. Penalties can be based on turnover or profits, and individuals in charge can be held liable. Kavach represents you throughout.

Still Have a Question?

Every business and every market is different — and no FAQ can cover every situation. If your question isn't answered here, our experts are happy to help, with no obligation.

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