• The Competition Commission of India (‘Commission’) has found some Pharmaceuticals companies along with some of their office bearers/officials to be in contravention of the provisions of the Competition Act, 2002 (‘Act’).
• CCI also directed Madhya Pradesh Chemists and Druggist Association (MPCDA) to organise at least five competition awareness and compliance programmes over a period of six months in the State of Madhya Pradesh for its members and directed ICA to organise one competition awareness programme in the district of Indore.

About Competition Commission of India

• It is a statutory body of the Government of India, responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002 throughout India and to prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition.
• It’s an independent body responsible for investigating mergers, acquisition and pricing strategy by the different companies.
• CCI had replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, 1969.

Objectives of the competition Act 2002 are

• To protect the interests of the consumers by providing them good products and services at reasonable prices.
• To promote healthy competition in the Indian market.
• To prevent the interests of the smaller companies or prevent the abuse of dominant position in the market.
• To prevent those practices which have adverse impact on competition in the Indian markets.
• To ensure freedom of trade in Indian markets.
• To regulate the operation and activities of combinations (acquisitions, mergers and amalgamation).