New Delhi:

This move follows rising concerns over listings of unlicensed wireless devices being sold online without disclosing critical technical and legal information. The Department of Consumer Affairs, after consultations with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications, finalised the rules to tighten monitoring and protect both consumers and national communication infrastructure.

Centre has notified new guidelines aimed at stopping the illegal sale of radio communication equipment, including walkie-talkies, on e-commerce platforms. The guidelines, officially titled the “Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment including Walkie Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025,” were issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on 27 May 2025.

New rules for sellers and platforms

Sellers, on their part, are required to confirm that the devices haven’t been tampered with post-approval. Listings that lack frequency information or relevant certificates are to be taken down immediately. Products such as mobile signal boosters and wireless jammers are completely banned from being listed online.

Platforms will also need to implement keyword-based and frequency-based monitoring tools to detect illegal product listings. Any listing flagged or found violating the norms must be removed within 24 hours of receiving a government directive.

According to the guidelines, e-commerce platforms will now have to actively verify that listed radio equipment complies with India’s telecom regulations. Products must clearly state the frequency bands, provide valid Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Department of Telecommunications, and offer access to test reports from accredited labs.

Public reporting and consumer safety

The guidelines also include a clause to make it easier for users to report suspicious or illegal listings. Platforms must set up user-friendly reporting systems and cooperate with authorities for timely enforcement. Regular audits and compliance reports will be part of the ongoing monitoring effort.

Over 16,000 violations found earlier

The CCPA had earlier flagged 16,970 such listings on digital marketplaces and issued thirteen notices to major e-commerce platforms. These listings were found to be missing key disclosures such as licensing requirements and device frequency ranges, which can potentially mislead users into purchasing equipment that may interfere with emergency and law enforcement communications.

The guidelines are legally binding under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Repeated violations may result in the blacklisting of sellers and holding platforms accountable. According to the notification, this enforcement is in addition to any penalties under telecom laws.

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