ICRR 2017 – Synopsis

CUTS in association with CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC), has been publishing biennial reports on the state of competition and regulation in India. The reports are designed to undertake reviews of level of competition and regulation to assess functioning of markets in the country. This is desirable given the existence of distortions in economic management of the country that impede realisation of competitive outcomes. The objective is to improve the quality of regulation and enhance the level of competition in select sectors of the economy through research, network and advocacy based on research findings. Five reports (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015) have been published till date.

The 2017 report, released in March 2018, deals with IPR-Competition interface as well as optimal regulation, which are necessary for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation. The report covers areas, such as agriculture marketing, GM cotton seeds, Information and Communication Technology and Department of Financial Services. A chapter is also devoted on how competition policy can help achieving SDGs.

The report contains the following chapters:

Chapter 1:

An Overview

Chapter 2:

Perception and Awareness Reporting

Chapter 3:

Implications of Competition Reforms in Wheat Sector on Consumers and Producers in Bihar and Rajasthan

Chapter 4:

GM Cotton Seeds: Emerging Jurisprudence vis-à-vis Competition, Price Control and Patent Licencing

Chapter 5:

Fair Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory Licensing for Standard Essential Patents and Competition with Special Reference to India’s ICT Sector

Chapter 6:

Need for Proportionate Regulation of Digital Financial Services in India

Chapter 7:

The Role of Competition Policy in Promoting Sustainable Development Goals

Chapter 8:

Epilogue