The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken suo motu action against the unauthorised sale of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms. It has imposed penalties on several major online marketplaces for regulatory violations and misleading advertisements.

The CCPA informed that the Authority identified over 16 thousand 900 non-compliant walkie-talkie listings on e-commerce platforms. It added that many products were sold without mandatory details on operating frequency, licensing requirements and Equipment Type Approval (ETA). It also mentioned that several devices were wrongly advertised as licence-free or one hundred percent legal. The CCPA highlighted that many walkie-talkies operate on restricted UHF bands used by police and emergency services, posing risks to public safety and national security.

The Authority imposed 10 lakh rupees penalties on E-commerce platforms, rejecting claims of intermediary status and holding platforms accountable for compliance. The CCPA has issued new 2025 guidelines to curb the illegal online sale of radio equipment, mandating strict verification, certification, and monitoring by e-commerce platforms. It warned that misleading listings violate consumer rights and threaten public safety.