GuidesConsumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules · Updated 5 October 2026

Practical guides to the e-commerce rules

Plenty has been written about what the 2026 amendment says. These guides are about what to do: who it applies to, what to publish, how to work out a prior price, and what a self-audit statement looks like.

Guides

A sample dark-pattern self-audit statement (Rule 4(15))

A complete, filled-in sample of the dark-pattern self-audit statement Rule 4(15) asks every e-commerce entity to display: scope, method, coverage of all 13 patterns, open items and a qualified declaration, with notes on each part.

Does Rule 4(15) apply to my online store?

Who must do the yearly dark-pattern self-audit under Rule 4(15) from 1 January 2027: D2C brands on their own site, marketplace-only sellers, foreign sellers, and the grey areas.

The 30-day prior-price rule, with worked examples

How to work out the prior price to show with an announced price reduction under Rule 4(13): four worked examples, the open questions (new products, MRP, coupons, member prices) and the records you need.

The 13 dark patterns, with examples and fixes

All thirteen dark patterns specified in the CCPA's 2023 Guidelines, correctly listed (including rogue malware), with what each looks like on an Indian store and how to fix it.

What Rule 4(15) does not require

Rule 4(15) asks for a yearly dark-pattern self-audit and a displayed certificate. It requires no filing, no fee, no prescribed format and no approved auditor. Here is what still applies.

Grievance officer and contact details: what to publish

What every Indian e-commerce entity must display under Rule 4(2), how complaints must be handled under Rule 4(5), and footer, contact-page and acknowledgement-email text to adapt.