Lok Sabha passes Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha today passed the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 without discussion. Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman moved the Bill in the House amid the din. The Bill seeks to amend the Competition Act, 2002 to regulate mergers and acquisitions based on the value of transactions.

The Bill stipulates that deals with a transaction value of more than two thousand crore rupees will require the Competition Commission of India’s approval. The Bill also proposes to reduce the timeline for the CCI to pass an order on such transactions from 210 days to 150 days. 

The Bill provides a framework for settlement and commitment for



faster resolution of investigations of anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position. It also decriminalises certain offences under the Act by changing the nature of punishment from the imposition of fine to civil penalties. These offences include failure to comply with orders of the CCI and directions of the Director General related to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position. 

The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August 2022 and referred to the Standing Committee in the same month. The Standing Committee submitted its report in December last year.