Rule 6 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 6(4) and (5) tell a seller on a marketplace what it must have in place and what it must hand to the platform for display. The 2026 amendment substitutes clause (d) of rule 6(5) and adds a new clause (j) from 1 January 2027.
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 text is set out first and the 2027 changes follow under their own heading. Later amendments should be checked on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
A seller on a marketplace must have a prior written contract with the platform, appoint a grievance officer who acknowledges complaints within forty-eight hours and redresses them within one month, keep advertisements consistent with the real characteristics of the goods, and give the platform its legal name, addresses, website, contact details and, where applicable, GSTIN and PAN. Rule 6(5) lists nine kinds of information the seller must supply for display. From 1 January 2027 the list adds a Central Government identification number such as GSTIN or MSME registration number.
Rule 6(4): what the seller must have
A seller offering goods or services through a marketplace shall:
- (a) have "a prior written contract with the respective e-commerce entity in order to undertake or solicit such sale or offer";
- (b) appoint a grievance officer and ensure the officer "acknowledges the receipt of any consumer complaint within forty-eight hours and redresses the complaint within one month from the date of receipt of the complaint";
- (c) ensure that advertisements for marketing are "consistent with the actual characteristics, access and usage conditions of such goods or services"; and
- (d) provide the e-commerce entity with its legal name, principal geographic address of its headquarters and all branches, the name and details of its website, its e-mail address, customer care contact details such as fax, landline and mobile numbers and, "where applicable, its GSTIN and PAN details".
The contract must come first: "prior" means before the seller undertakes or solicits the sale. The grievance periods are the same as those for the platform in rule 4(5). For tax matters on GSTIN and PAN, see our GST guides and income-tax guides. A seller preparing its marketplace onboarding can ask for a compliance advisory review of the contract and the details it must hand over.
Rule 6(5): nine kinds of information
Rule 6(5) requires the seller to provide the following information to the e-commerce entity "to be displayed on its platform or website". This feeds the marketplace's own duty in clause (e) of rule 5(3).
| Clause | Information the seller must provide |
|---|---|
| (a) | All contractual information required to be disclosed by law |
| (b) | Total price in a single figure, with the breakup showing all compulsory and voluntary charges such as delivery, postage and handling, conveyance and applicable tax |
| (c) | All mandatory notices and information provided by applicable laws, and the expiry date of the good, where applicable |
| (d) | All relevant details about the goods and services, including country of origin, needed for an informed pre-purchase decision |
| (e) | Name, contact numbers and designation of the grievance officer, for grievances or reporting any other matter |
| (f) | Name and details of importer, and guarantees related to the authenticity or genuineness of imported products |
| (g) | Accurate information on exchange, returns and refund, including costs of return shipping, in a clear and accessible manner |
| (h) | Relevant details of delivery and shipment |
| (i) | Any relevant guarantees or warranties |
An invented example: Dhruv sells imported headphones on a marketplace. Under clause (b) the listing must show one total price and its breakup, for instance the product price, delivery charge and tax. Under clause (f) it must show the importer's name and details and the guarantees related to authenticity of the imported product. Under clause (g) it must state, accurately, the return terms and who pays return shipping. The rule prints no fee or penalty for omissions; a contravention is dealt with under the Act (rule 8).
"Guarantee" and "warranty" in clauses (f) and (i) are used in their legal sense: statements the seller makes about authenticity and product performance.
From 1 January 2027: clause (d) substituted and clause (j) inserted
Clause (d) as substituted reads: "all relevant details about the goods and services offered for sale by the seller including country of origin, , information related to return, refund, exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, cost and return shipping, mode of payments and any other similar information which are necessary for enabling the consumer to make an informed decision at the pre-purchase stage". A proviso says that for food products the requirement relating to display of the date shall be subject to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the regulations made under it.
So clause (d) grows from a short line about relevant details and country of origin into a fuller list. The new items are the date label, return, refund and exchange, warranty and guarantee, delivery and shipment, return shipping cost and payment modes. Several overlap with clauses (g), (h) and (i); the substituted clause (d) simply repeats them in the pre-purchase list.
Clause (j) as inserted reads: "any identification number issued by the Central Government including Goods and Services Tax Identification Number or Micro and Small Medium Enterprises registration number".
| Clause | Today | From 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 6(5)(d) | Relevant details including country of origin | Longer list: country of origin, date label, return, refund, exchange, warranty, guarantee, delivery, return shipping cost, payment modes; food proviso |
| 6(5)(j) | Not present | Any Central Government identification number, including GSTIN or MSME registration number |
For labelling duties on packaged goods see our post on e-commerce labelling rules under Legal Metrology. For a seller's tax registration questions, see our GST guides. The full list of 2027 changes is in our rule-by-rule account of the 2026 amendment, and the seller's duties on returns and reviews are in rule 6(1)-(3).
Need help with seller compliance on marketplaces?
If you sell on marketplaces and want your contract, grievance process and listing details checked against rule 6, our compliance advisory team can prepare a checklist for today's rules and for 1 January 2027.
Key takeaways
- A seller needs a prior written contract with the marketplace.
- The seller's grievance officer must acknowledge in forty-eight hours and redress in one month.
- Rule 6(5) lists nine kinds of information for display, including total price with breakup and return shipping costs.
- From 1 January 2027 clause (d) is longer and clause (j) adds a Central Government identification number such as GSTIN or MSME registration number.
Read next
- Rule 5(3): marketplace disclosures about sellers and ranking
- Rule 6(1)-(3): seller duties, fake reviews and taking back goods
- Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026
- GST Registration for E-Commerce Sellers: Special Requirements
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.