India has introduced strict Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment, including Walkie-Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025 to curb unauthorized sales of wireless communication devices. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution finalized these measures after consultations with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The move comes in response to growing concerns over unregulated walkie-talkie sales, which lack mandatory disclosures on licensing requirements, operating frequencies, and legal obligations under existing telecom laws. Officials stress that many listings mislead consumers into believing these devices are freely operable, despite regulatory restrictions under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933.
CCPA’s latest enforcement actions revealed 16,970 product listings violating compliance norms across multiple digital marketplaces, prompting the issuance of thirteen notices to major e-commerce platforms. Regulators warn that unauthorized devices can interfere with critical communication networks, including law enforcement and emergency response systems, creating serious security risks.
Under the new guidelines, e-commerce platforms must mandate due diligence, ensuring product listings specify frequency ranges, licensing obligations, and proof of regulatory approval through Equipment Type Approval (ETA). Listings that fail to meet these requirements must be removed immediately.
The framework also prohibits misleading advertisements, requiring sellers to confirm that devices operate only on permitted frequencies, exempt from frequency assignment and authorization by the DoT. Violations will be subject to penalties and enforcement mechanisms under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with non-compliant platforms held liable for regulatory breaches.
Officials emphasize that these reforms aim to promote consumer awareness, ensure verification of seller credentials, introduce automated monitoring mechanisms for unauthorized listings, and hold platforms accountable for compliance failures.
With India strengthening its digital consumer protection laws, regulators are expected to increase scrutiny of e-commerce listings, reinforcing responsible trade practices and ensuring that wireless communication devices meet all necessary legal and technical requirements.
