Centre plans to provide legal power to CCI ahead of merger with NAA

The proposed amendments will require the GST Council's approval

The Union government is working on enhancing legal powers for the Competition Commission of India (CCI) by amending some key provisions of anti-profiteering regulations on goods and services tax (GST), thus preparing the soil for two regulators to merge.

The move assumes significance as the National Anti-profiteering Authority’s (NAA’s) term ends in November, with no further extension being planned. The Centre had early this year decided to subsume the NAA, the GST anti-profiteering watchdog, into the CCI.

The merger could be delayed if the relevant changes are not made before November-end. At present, the CCI’s structure lacks the legal powers