CCI Notifies Commitment Amendment Regulations, 2026; Filing Window extended to 60 days

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has notified the Competition Commission of India (Commitment) Amendment Regulations, 2026. It amends the commitment mechanism framework that governs how parties under investigation can offer commitments to address competition concerns. The CCI has also issued a General Statement, under Section 64A(b) of the Competition Act, setting out its response to public comments received on the draft amendments.  

Background 

The Competition Commission of India (Commitment) Regulations, 2024 were notified on 06.03.2024. These Regulations laid down a comprehensive framework for the commitment mechanism, covering the form and contents of commitment applications, the applicable fee, the circumstances in which the Commission could reject such applications, and the period within which commitments could be offered. 

Following implementation of this framework, the Commission identified certain administrative and procedural issues, particularly relating to prescribed timelines, rectification of defects in applications, and adjustment of fees. To address these issues, draft amendments to the CCI Commitment 2024 Regulations, along with a Background Note, were placed on the Commission's website for public consultation. Comments and suggestions from stakeholders were invited from 29.05.2026 to 29.06.2026. 

The Commission received comments from 15 stakeholders across categories including academic institutions and the legal fraternity, and has examined these comments before finalising the amendments. 

Competition Commission of India (Commitment) Amendment Regulations, 2026: Key Takeaways 

Timeline changes 

• Filing period: The time limit for filing commitment applications is extended from 45 days to 60 days (Regulation 3(3)).
• Preliminary consideration period: The Commission's period for preliminary consideration of applications is extended from 7 working days to 15 working days (Regulation 4(1)).
• Overall timeline: The outer limit for completion of commitment proceedings is extended from 130 working days to 180 working days (Regulation 4(7), amended twice in the sub-regulation itself and in its proviso). 

New provision on rectification of defects

• Previously, defective applications had to be rectified within 10 working days or be treated as invalid.
• Now restructured into four clauses: 
  (a) A defective application will be returned to the applicant indicating the defects/deficiencies. 
  (b) The applicant must refile within 10 working days of receiving the communication, curing the defects. 
  (c) The fee paid on the original application is adjusted against the fee payable on refiling. 
  (d) If defects are not cured within the specified time, the application is treated as invalid. 

New proviso excluding certain time from the 180-day computation 

• A new proviso is inserted (before the existing one) in Regulation 4(7): time taken by the Commitment Applicant or any other party to furnish requested information, clarification, or response, or any extension availed, is excluded when computing the 180-day period.
• If commitment proceedings are still not concluded within the stipulated period after such exclusion, the inquiry under Section 26 of the Act stands resumed against the applicant.
• The word "further" is inserted after "Provided" in the existing proviso (to sit alongside the newly inserted proviso). 

Other procedural changes 

• Regulation 5(2): The requirement that a document be "filed by the concerned parties" is omitted.
• Regulation 5(2)(a): The phrase "the concerned party and its" is replaced with "such person and their".