E-comm policy may propose voluntary ONDC registration

In relaxation of earlier proposal, government may tweak stance after talks with stakeholders

- Dhirendra Kumar & Suneera Tandon

The government may not make it mandatory for online business firms to register on Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) in the proposed new e-commerce policy, two officials privy to the information said, in an easing of rules that could benefit the big players.

Instead, it is likely to propose voluntary registration. This would mark a relaxation from the earlier thinking and comes after a final round of consultations with stakeholders in early August, one of the officials said.

Besides, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)—an arm of the commerce and industry ministry—may not make it compulsory for online portals to share their ‘buyer and seller’ database with the ministry’s service facilitator ONDC, this official said, adding that the policy is ready to be released soon.

The earlier thinking within the government was to make it compulsory to position ONDC as a one-stop service providing network.