Authorities in India are increasing scrutiny of online sellers and imported products as the country’s festive shopping season approaches. The focus is particularly on products that may be counterfeit, lack mandatory certifications or are being sold at unusually low prices.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is working with e-commerce platforms to identify suspicious products and imports. Officials are also paying attention to the growing number of dark stores and other fast-delivery facilities, which can make monitoring products more complicated.
The increased checking comes at a time when online shopping typically rises ahead of major festivals. Consumers increasingly purchase electronics, household products, clothing, cosmetics and other goods through digital marketplaces. Authorities are therefore seeking to ensure that products entering and being sold in the market meet required standards.
For consumers, the development highlights the importance of checking seller information, product certification, warranty details and return policies before making purchases online. Extremely low prices can sometimes indicate products that do not meet required standards or may not be genuine.
The intensified monitoring is expected to continue as the festive shopping period gets closer, with authorities and online platforms working together to identify potentially problematic products.
