The Indian government has introduced new rules to stop the illegal sale of radio equipment, such as walkie-talkies, on online shopping platforms. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, issued these guidelines on Friday to protect consumers and prevent misuse of wireless devices.
Named the Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025, the rules focus on stopping the sale of devices that require proper licensing and could interfere with communication networks like police and emergency services.
These steps were taken after discussions with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Authorities found that many walkie-talkies were being sold online without stating whether they need a license or follow Indian laws. This misleads buyers into thinking they can use these devices freely, which is often not the case.
“The omission of details such as frequency range, licensing obligations under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, or the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Use of Low Power, Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018 and the potential legal consequences of unauthorised use, misleads consumers into believing that the devices are freely operable by the general public,” the Ministry said.
The new rules require online sellers to clearly mention important details like frequency range, license requirements, and technical approvals. Only those devices that are approved and operate on legal frequencies will be allowed to be sold online.
E-commerce companies must now verify that the listed products follow legal guidelines. Any listing without required certifications or frequency information must be removed. Also, sellers must not post false advertisements or descriptions that hide the legal limitations of using such devices.
Penalties will apply to those who break the rules, as per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. In the past, the CCPA had already issued 13 notices related to over 16,000 walkie-talkie listings that failed to meet these requirements. These new rules aim to make online shopping safer and ensure that buyers are not misled when purchasing radio communication devices.
