A group of prominent Indian startup founders have written to Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling the need for an ex-ante framework to regulate digital markets “as urgent as ever.” The founders warned that narratives driven by global tech giants could disproportionately shape perceptions in the debate on competition.

Breakdown

The Appeal:
Founders including Anupam Mittal of People Group and Murugavel Janakiraman of Matrimony.com urged the government to ensure that transparency and inclusivity guide the market study on digital competition.

The Concern:
They argued that large technology firms and digital gatekeepers have produced extensive material opposing ex-ante provisions. The sheer volume of this content, they cautioned, risks skewing public discourse and policy direction.

The Position:
While acknowledging that opposing perspectives should be part of the debate, the founders insisted they must not dominate the conversation or drown out voices from India’s startup ecosystem.

Why This Matters
Ex-ante regulation means setting rules in advance to prevent monopolistic or anti-competitive behaviour, rather than relying only on penalties after harm occurs. For Indian startups, it could level the playing field against global platforms that control access, data, and markets.

The Bigger Picture
India’s digital economy is one of the fastest growing in the world, but it risks being shaped by a few global incumbents. By moving toward an ex-ante framework, India could align with emerging global practices in Europe and elsewhere, giving its startup ecosystem a more predictable and fair environment to scale.