BS EDIT: Retail needs one clear rulebook

By Business StandardPublished On Jul 14, 2026

A maze of regulations

Retail businesses navigate overlapping rules and multiple authorities. As technology reshapes commerce, regulation must become simpler, clearer and easier to implement

One policy, many benefits

A comprehensive ecommerce policy can reduce regulatory ambiguity, improve ease of doing business and spare firms from seeking approvals across numerous ministries

Legacy rules persist

Political sensitivities have produced a patchwork of retail regulations. Different rules for different formats have made the sector more complex than in many global markets

An uneven framework

Single-brand retail has attracted global investment, while multibrand retail remains restricted. Multiple entry routes with separate rules add to policy uncertainty

Ecommerce changes the game

Rapid growth in ecommerce and quick commerce has exposed gaps in existing regulations. Distinctions between business models often create confusion instead of clarity

Time to simplify

India needs a transparent, technology-neutral retail framework that ensures fair competition, encourages investment and offers regulatory certainty to every participant in the sect