Combination exemption for CPSEs in oil and gas removes sections five and six application for a limited period
The Central Government uses its power under clause (a) of Section 54 of the Competition Act, 2002 to exempt all combinations involving CPSEs operating under the Petroleum Act, 1934 and the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, including their wholly or partly owned subsidiaries in the oil and gas sector, from the application of the statutory provisions governing combinations for a limited period from publication in the Official Gazette.

Competition exemption for bank reorganisations excludes sections five and six, effective for a ten-year period.
Central Government exempts reconstitution, transfer (whole or part) and amalgamation of nationalized banks under the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts, 1970 and 1980, from the application of Sections 5 and 6 of the Competition Act, 2002. The exemption is granted under clause (a) of Section 54 of the Competition Act and is effective for ten years from the notification's publication in the Official Gazette.

Competition law exemption for notified regional rural banks suspends application of anticompetitive provisions for a temporary period.
The Central Government, under clause (a) of section 54 of the Competition Act, 2002, exempts Regional Rural Banks notified under sub-section (1) of section 23A of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 from the application of the provisions of sections 5 and 6 of the Competition Act, by ministerial notification in the public interest for a temporary period from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Lesser penalty framework updated to allow full reduction for first vital disclosure and tiered reductions for subsequent disclosures.
The regulations establish a tiered lesser-penalty mechanism: first applicants who make a vital disclosure backed by evidence enabling a prima-facie view, or establishing contravention where the Commission lacks sufficient evidence, may receive reduction up to one hundred percent; subsequent applicants providing "added value" evidence may receive reduced penalties, with second-in-priority applicants eligible for up to fifty percent reduction and third-or-subsequent applicants up to thirty percent. Applicants who are enterprises must name individuals involved for whom lesser penalty is sought.

Exemption from merger notification delays filing obligation under Section 6, subject to Section 6(2A) and Section 43A.
Exemption under Section 54(a) relieves every person or enterprise party to a combination under Section 5 from the requirement to give notice within the period specified in Section 6(2), subject to the provisions of Section 6(2A) and Section 43A; the exemption is time limited from the date of its publication and was subsequently amended by notification.

Vessels sharing agreement exemption allows liner carriers relief from competition prohibition subject to no price fixing and monitoring requirements.
The Central Government exempts Vessels Sharing Agreements in the liner shipping industry from the Competition Act prohibition for a one year period from 20th June 2017 provided the agreements do not include price fixing, capacity limitation or sales restriction, or allocation of markets or customers; the Director General, Shipping will monitor such agreements and persons responsible for ship operations in India must file copies of existing or new agreements and related documents with the Director General, Shipping within the prescribed timeframes.

Rescission of Notification under the Competition Act: earlier Gazette notification withdrawn, savings for prior actions preserved.
Central Government, invoking clause (a) of section 54 of the Competition Act, 2002, rescinds S.O. 674(E), dated the 4th March, 2016, published in the Gazette of India, subject to a savings clause preserving acts done or omissions prior to the rescission.

Merger exemption for small combinations where notified asset and turnover thresholds keep transactions outside merger control.
The Central Government exempts specified acquisitions, control acquisitions and mergers involving enterprises in production, distribution or trading of similar or substitutable goods or services from the Competition Act combination provisions for a limited five year period where asset value or turnover do not exceed the notified India thresholds. For transfers of a portion, division or business, asset value is the preceding year's audited book value reduced by depreciation and including specified intangibles; turnover must be certified by the statutory auditor from the last audited accounts.

Vessels sharing agreements exempted from competition prohibition for a limited period, subject to conditions and monitoring.
The Central Government temporarily exempts Vessels Sharing Agreements in the liner shipping sector from the prohibition on anti-competitive agreements for three months from 21 March 2017, provided such agreements do not include concerted practices fixing prices, limiting capacity or sales, or allocating markets or customers. During this period, monitored filings of existing or newly executed agreements and related documents must be submitted within thirty days of publication or ten days of signing, whichever is later.