Rule 5 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 5(3) is the marketplace's disclosure list. It tells a marketplace what to show consumers about the sellers on its platform, about returns and payments, about complaint tracking and about how it ranks goods and sellers. Three of its clauses, (a), (c) and (f), are substituted from 1 January 2027, and a compliance advisory review can check a platform against both versions.
This article takes the rules as amended up to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026 (G.S.R. 789(E) of 9 September 2026, in force from 1 January 2027). Today's clauses come first; the 2027 text is under its own heading. Later amendments should be checked on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
A marketplace must display, "in a clear and accessible manner ... displayed prominently to its users at the appropriate place on its platform", six items: details about sellers, a ticket number for each complaint, return, refund and similar information, payment information, the information sellers supply under rule 6(5), and an explanation of the main ranking parameters. The clause letters (e) and (f) are fixed by the corrigendum G.S.R. 488(E). From 1 January 2027 clauses (a), (c) and (f) change: seller website and e-mail details, a use-before date, and ranking parameters in descending order.
Rule 5(3) clause by clause (today)
The opening words require the information to be given "in a clear and accessible manner, displayed prominently to its users at the appropriate place on its platform".
(a) Details about sellers. The name of their business, whether registered or not, geographic address, customer care number, any rating or other aggregated feedback about the seller, and "any other information necessary for enabling consumers to make informed decisions at the pre-purchase stage". The proviso adds a post-purchase duty: on a request in writing made by a consumer after the purchase, the marketplace must give information about the seller from which the consumer purchased, including the principal geographic address of headquarters and all branches, name and details of its website, e-mail address and any other information necessary for communication with the seller "for effective dispute resolution".
(b) A ticket number for each complaint lodged, through which the consumer can track the status of the complaint.
(c) Information relating to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment and grievance redressal mechanism, and other similar information consumers may need to make informed decisions.
(d) Payment information: available payment methods, the security of those methods, any fees or charges payable by users, the procedure to cancel regular payments under those methods, charge-back options if any, and the contact information of the relevant payment service provider.
(e) All information provided to it by sellers under rule 6(5); see our article on rule 6(4) and (5).
(f) An explanation of the main parameters which, individually or collectively, are "most significant in determining the ranking of goods or sellers on its platform" and their relative importance, through "an easily and publicly available description drafted in plain and intelligible language".
Clause (a) has a pre-purchase list (what everyone sees) and a post-purchase list (what the buyer can ask for in writing). The two should not be confused. An invented example: Rohan buys a kettle on a marketplace and later needs to write to the seller. He sends a written request to the marketplace, which must give him the seller's headquarters address, website, e-mail and other communication details.
Clause (f) works with the definition of "ranking" in rule 3. A marketplace need not disclose every internal detail; the rule asks for the main parameters and their relative importance in plain language. Disclosure pages should be checked against this wording.
From 1 January 2027: clauses (a), (c) and (f) substituted
| Clause | Today | From 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Business name, registered or not, geographic address, customer care number, rating or aggregated feedback, other information | Adds "name and details of its website and email address, where available" to the seller details; the post-purchase proviso is repeated unchanged |
| (c) | Return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, modes of payment, grievance redressal | Adds the use-before date (the rule names both date labels); a proviso says that for food products the requirement is subject to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and its regulations |
| (f) | Main ranking parameters and their relative importance | The parameters must be explained "in descending order" |
In the 2027 text of clause (a), the information to be displayed on sellers reads: "name of their business, whether registered or not, their geographic address, customer care number, name and details of its website and email address, where available, any rating or other aggregated feedback about such seller and any other information necessary for enabling consumers to make informed decisions at the pre-purchase stage". The words "where available" qualify the website and e-mail details.
In clause (c) the date label is added to the list, and the proviso on food products points to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the regulations made under it. For food, then, the labelling rules under that law decide how and when the date is shown. See our post on e-commerce labelling rules under Legal Metrology for the labelling side.
In clause (f) the main parameters must be explained "in descending order", meaning the most significant first. Together with the changed "ranking" definition, the explanation will cover the prominence given to sellers as well as to listings.
For the complete list of 2027 changes, see our rule-by-rule account of the 2026 amendment.
A disclosure checklist for marketplaces
- Seller page with business name, registration status, address, customer care number, ratings and, from 2027, website and e-mail where available.
- A ticket number issued for every complaint.
- Policy pages on return, refund, exchange, warranty, guarantee, delivery and payment; from 2027 the use-before date.
- Payment security and charge-back information.
- Display of everything the sellers have supplied under rule 6(5).
- A plain-language ranking explanation, in descending order from 2027.
Related reading: the broader overview in consumer protection for online transactions, and the seller-side list in rule 6(4) and (5).
Need help with marketplace disclosures?
Our compliance advisory team can review your seller pages, complaint tracking and ranking explanation against rule 5(3), today's text and the text from 1 January 2027.
Key takeaways
- Rule 5(3) lists six disclosures (a) to (f), shown prominently at the appropriate place.
- Each complaint needs a ticket number; buyers can ask in writing for seller details after a purchase.
- A plain-language explanation of the main ranking parameters is required.
- From 1 January 2027, seller website and e-mail details, a use-before date and ranking parameters in descending order are added.
Read next
- Rule 5(1), (2), (4) and (5): marketplace exemption, undertaking and records
- Rule 3: definitions including ranking
- Rule 6(4) and (5): seller contract and product disclosures
- Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026
Disclaimer: Based on the rules, regulations and guidelines named above as published in the Gazette of India or on the CCPA website, with the amending notifications the article names (consulted on 3 October 2026). Later amendments, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provisions referred to, State rules and CCPA advisories should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.