In a recent report on e-commerce regulation, the Rajya Sabha standing committee on commerce proposed that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) establish a Digital Market Division as an expert division with the sole responsibility of regulating digital marketplaces.

The panel also encouraged the government to create a national cybercrime policy in its recently submitted report to Parliament, which is important given the growing reliance on digital technology.

It has requested that the government draft a comprehensive national cybercrime policy or legislation after consulting with relevant parties and business professionals.

According to the committee's report, which was written under the leadership of Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, "the presence of an overarching regulatory body, that glues together different ministries, departments, and authorities that currently regulate e-commerce, will strengthen the regulatory regime and bridge the existing gaps in enforcement."

The committee recommended that a Digital Market Division within the CCI be established as an expert division, specifically tasked with regulating the digital markets, with involvement from all current regulators concerned with e-commerce, such as the Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (RBI).

The panel stressed the importance of a national cybercrime policy but also pointed out that the government has taken a fragmented approach to issues involving cybercrimes.

It also noted that, given the essential importance of the cyber infrastructure and the growing reliance on digital technology, such a fragmented strategy will not be effective.

Consequently, it was recommended that "cybercrimes and its related matters, such as skilling and training in digital crimes investigation, creation of dedicated cybercrime division, cyber security standards, investigation process, and grievance redressal mechanism, merit attention in the form of a National Cybercrime Policy."