LEGAL ASPECTS OF E-COMMERCE IN INDIA: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, COMPLIANCE OBLIGATIONS, AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

India’s fast-growing digital marketplace has reshaped how goods and services are marketed, sold, and consumed, demanding a robust and evolving legal framework for e-commerce. This article examines the regulatory architecture governing online business in India, focusing on the Information Technology Act, 2000, Consumer Protection Act, 2019, Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, the Competition Act, 2002, GST laws, and intellectual property statutes. It analyzes how legal compliance in areas such as electronic contracts, consumer rights, data governance, taxation, competition regulation, and brand protection has become inseparable from corporate governance and strategic management. The paper argues that for e-commerce enterprises, regulatory adherence is no longer merely a legal obligation but a core business strategy essential for risk management, consumer trust, and sustainable growth in India’s digital economy.