CCI raises the time to offer commitments from 45 to 60 and the overall limit from 130 to 180: Commitment Amendment Regulations, 2026
The Competition Commission of India has amended its Commitment Regulations, 2024. The figure in regulation 3(3) for filing a commitment application goes from 45 to 60, the Commission’s first look from 7 to 15, and the overall limit from 130 to 180. A defective application is now returned and may be refiled within 10 working days, with the fee adjusted.
Key facts
- In force
- From publication in the Official Gazette (notification dated 18 August 2026)
- Who it affects
- Enterprises facing a CCI inquiry under section 26 that wish to offer commitments, competition lawyers, in-house legal teams
- What it is
- Rule change
- Section
- Company Law
- Published
- 18 August 2026
In 30 seconds
- The Competition Commission of India (Commitment) Amendment Regulations, 2026 (No. 01 of 2026) are dated 18 August 2026 and are in force from publication in the Official Gazette.
- Regulation 3(3): “45 (forty-five)” replaced by “60 (sixty)” — the period for filing a commitment application.
- Regulation 4(1): “7 (seven)” replaced by “15 (fifteen)”; regulation 4(7): “130” replaced by “180”.
- Time taken, or extensions availed, by the applicant or any other party in furnishing information is excluded from the 180-period.
- If the proceedings are not concluded in that period, the inquiry under section 26 of the Competition Act against the applicant stands resumed.
- A defective application is returned; it must be refiled within 10 working days, the original fee is adjusted, and failure makes the application invalid.
हिंदी में सार
CCI ने Commitment Regulations, 2024 में संशोधन किया है (अधिसूचना 18 अगस्त 2026)। Commitment आवेदन दाख़िल करने की अवधि 45 से बढ़ाकर 60, आयोग के प्रारंभिक विचार की अवधि 7 से 15 और कुल समय-सीमा 130 से 180 कर दी गई है। त्रुटिपूर्ण आवेदन अब लौटाया जाएगा और 10 कार्य-दिवस में दोबारा दाख़िल करना होगा; पहले दी गई फ़ीस समायोजित होगी।
Before and now
45 (forty-five)
60 (sixty)
What has changed
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has notified the Competition Commission of India (Commitment) Amendment Regulations, 2026 (No. 01 of 2026), dated 18 August 2026, under sections 36 and 64 of the Competition Act, 2002. They amend the Commitment Regulations, 2024, which were notified on 6 March 2024, and come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
CCI’s General Statement, published with the regulations, explains that experience with the 2024 framework threw up administrative and procedural issues — on timelines, on rectification of defects in applications and on adjustment of fees.
| Provision | Earlier | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation 3(3) — filing the commitment application | 45 | 60 |
| Regulation 4(1) — the Commission’s preliminary consideration (working days, as described in the General Statement) | 7 | 15 |
| Regulation 4(7) — overall period for the proceedings | 130 | 180 |
| Regulation 3(4) — defective application | Applicant could be asked to remove the defect within 10 working days “or such other period as may be specified by the Commission”, failing which the application “may be treated as invalid” | Application is returned with the defects indicated; refiling within 10 working days; fee adjusted; otherwise the application “shall be considered invalid” |
Defective applications
- The application is returned to the applicant, indicating the defects or deficiencies to be rectified.
- The applicant must refile within 10 working days from receipt of that communication, after curing the defects.
- The fee paid for the original application is adjusted against the fee payable on refiling.
- If the defects are not removed in that time, the commitment application is considered invalid.
How the 180-period is counted
A new proviso to regulation 4(7) says that, in computing the period, any time taken or extension availed by the commitment applicant or any other party in furnishing information, clarification or a response is excluded. If the proceedings are still not concluded within the period after that exclusion, the inquiry under section 26 of the Act against the applicant stands resumed.
What CCI did not accept
The draft was open for public comments up to 29 June 2026, and 15 stakeholders responded. According to the General Statement:
- Some asked that commitment applications be allowed at any stage before the Director General’s investigation report. CCI declined: the mechanism is meant for early market correction, and 60 days with a discretionary extension of up to 30 days on sufficient cause is, in its view, an appropriate balance.
- Some asked that the outer limit of 180 working days be dropped. CCI has kept it, together with the provision for extension.
- Suggestions outside the consultation draft were not taken up.
Other changes
In regulation 5(2), the words “filed by the concerned parties” are omitted and “the concerned party and its” becomes “such person and their”. References to the CCI (General) Regulations, 2009 in regulations 9, 11, 13 and 14 now point to the CCI (General) Regulations, 2024 (regulation 35 becomes 36; regulations 37 and 50 become 38 and 51).
What parties should do
An enterprise facing a section 26 inquiry that wants to offer commitments should count the filing window on the new figure, file a complete application, and — if it is returned — refile inside 10 working days. Delay in answering CCI’s queries no longer eats into the Commission’s time; it is excluded.
Questions and answers
How long does a party now have to file a commitment application with CCI?
Regulation 3(3) of the Commitment Regulations, 2024 now reads “60 (sixty)” in place of “45 (forty-five)”. CCI’s General Statement describes this as an extension from forty-five days to sixty days, with a discretionary extension of up to thirty days on sufficient cause.
What happens if the commitment application is defective?
It is returned with the defects indicated. The applicant must refile within 10 working days of receiving the communication; the fee already paid is adjusted against the fee payable on refiling. If the defects are not removed in time, the application is considered invalid.
What is the overall time limit for commitment proceedings?
Regulation 4(7) now says 180 in place of 130. Time taken or extensions availed by the applicant or any other party in furnishing information, clarification or a response is excluded.
What if the proceedings are not concluded in that period?
The new proviso says the inquiry under section 26 of the Competition Act against the commitment applicant stands resumed.
Published 18 August 2026. Updated 7 October 2026. This report is for general information and is not professional advice. Read the source document before acting on it.