India’s digital economy has transformed Consumer interactions through e-commerce, fintech, social, and AI-driven services which requires protection of ultimate consumer. Consumer Protection and liability in online marketplaces are governed by a combination of statutory laws, specific e-commerce rules, and judicial interpretations. Online marketplaces (e.g. Amazon, Flipkart etc..,) connect buyers with third-party sellers. Consumers often face issues like defective products, fake goods, misleading information, delayed refunds, or untraceable sellers etc.., these issues needs to address so, Consumer protection laws aim to ensure transparency, fair practices and effective remedies, while liability determines who is i.e. Seller, platform, or both are responsible for harm. India has a strong regime under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), 2019 and Consumer Protection (E- Commerce) Rules, 2020 and Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023. These rules aim to build trust, especially with cash-on-delivery preferences and concerns over privacy/security in India. Even after enactment and implementation of these laws and rules, issues like cross-border sellers, fake reviews, dark patterns, and enforcement gaps are challenging the enforcement authorities and policy makers. Overall, the trend is shifting towards greater platform accountability to protect consumers while encouraging e-commerce growth. Laws balance innovation with safety, but gaps remain in global enforcement. Key words: Consumer protection – digital marketplace – CPA – DPDP Act – Regulatory Authorities
Dr. G. Vedasri (Fri,) studied this question.