A Think Tank on ‘Framework for National Policy on e-Commerce’ was established by Department of Commerce and a Task Force under the Think Tank was set up for preparing recommendations for India’s National Policy on e-Commerce. The Task Force was further divided into 9 sub-groups.The first meeting of the Think Tank was held on 24th April, 2018, meeting of the subgroups was held during 20th - 22nd June, 2018 and the first meeting of the Task Force was held on 6th July, 2018.

Further, the second meeting of the Think Tank was held on 30th July, 2018. Subsequent to the consultations held, Department of Commerce formulated a Draft policy document titled “Electronic Commerce in India: Stakeholder Recommendations Received for a National Policy Framework”.  Consequent to the change in Allocation of Business Rules, “Matters related to e-Commerce” has been transferred to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. The formulation of e-Commerce policy is under consideration of the Government, for which no timeline has been fixed.

This information was given by the Minister of State of Commerce and Industry, C. R. Chaudhary, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

E commerce policy framework remains under government consideration after task force draft and transfer of responsibility. A Departmental think tank and Task Force prepared a draft stakeholder based national e commerce policy titled 'Electronic Commerce in India: Stakeholder Recommendations Received for a National Policy Framework.' Responsibility for matters related to e commerce was transferred administratively to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, and the draft policy remains under government consideration with no fixed timeline.