 "ONDC")
“ONDC is currently operational in more than 500 cities and towns across India,” Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The government-promoted Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is at present operational in over 500 cities and towns across India, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
ONDC is an initiative of the Commerce and Industry Ministry to create a facilitative model to help small retailers take advantage of digital commerce.
It is not an application, platform, intermediary or software but a set of specifications designed to foster open, unbundled, and interoperable open networks.
“ONDC is currently operational in more than 500 cities and towns across India,” Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
All existing laws and regulations of India, related to e-commerce, are applicable to ONDC and the network participants on the ONDC network.
Replying to a separate question, he said to safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices in e-commerce, the Department of Consumer Affairs has also notified the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020, under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
These rules outline the responsibilities of e-commerce entities and specify the liabilities of marketplace and inventory e-commerce entities, including provisions for customer grievance redressal, he said.
Parkash also said that dark patterns involve using design and choice architecture to deceive, coerce, or influence consumers into making choices that are not in their best interest.
Dark patterns encompass a wide range of manipulative practices such as drip pricing, disguised advertisement, bait and switch, false urgency.
“Such practices fall under the category of unfair trade practices as defined under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019,” he added.
First Published: Dec 20 2023 | 10:59 PM IST
The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a government-promoted initiative in India, is currently operational in over 500 cities and towns across the country, according to Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash. The ONDC aims to support small retailers in leveraging digital commerce by providing a facilitative model. It is not a specific application or platform, but rather a set of specifications designed to promote open and interoperable networks.
Parkash also highlighted that all existing e-commerce laws and regulations in India are applicable to ONDC and its network participants. In addition, the Department of Consumer Affairs has introduced the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020, to safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices in e-commerce. These rules outline the responsibilities and liabilities of e-commerce entities, including provisions for customer grievance redressal.
Furthermore, Parkash mentioned the concept of “dark patterns,” which involve manipulative practices used to deceive or coerce consumers into making choices that may not be in their best interest. He emphasized that such practices are considered unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
As for the current context, the information provided in the summary is up-to-date as it mentions the statement made by Minister Som Parkash in response to a written query in Parliament. The ONDC’s expansion to over 500 cities and towns showcases its progress in promoting digital commerce among small retailers in India.
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