CCI had commissioned a study to Centre for Trade and Development (Centad) to study the sector and to identify the competition issues. The study has examined issues concerning working of pharmaceutical sector both from horizontal and vertical point of view. The study highlighted that the pharmaceutical markets in India are growing at an exponential rate. However, price competition among retailers can be hardly witnessed. The drug promotion matrix reveals that there are various unfair trade practices prevailing in the industry. In fact, authoritative studies, including those by the EU competition commission have noted that pharmaceutical companies spend more on promotion and advertising and less on research and development. There is evidence of inefficient allocation of resources in the distribution of pharmaceutical products as studies available indicate that the profitability margins in the distribution chain is quite high and specially in non-DPCO drugs and non-scheduled drugs in the pharmaceutical industry in India. This has implications on competition in the sector and unfair enrichment through wealth transfers.

As part of its capacity building initiative, CCI had commissioned a study on "Competitive Assessment of Onion Markets in India" to Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore with a view to assess competitiveness in major onion markets of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The study has highlighted certain institutional facts resulting in inefficiency in agricultural markets that adversely affects not only the farmers and consumers but also the state of competition in the market. The study comes with many findings and recommendations including indications of collusion among traders in selected markets in Maharashtra and Karnataka that may result in high prices of onion. Factors like significant marketing costs, lack of market infrastructure, control of trade in the hands of few traders, restricting entry for new traders, often strikes by market functionaries, etc. can also responsible for high prices of onion. Towards the end of the study has come up with a set of policy recommendations that aim at improving efficiency of market through competition.

The study was commissioned to Clarus Law associates, New Delhi with an overall objective to conduct research in accordance with the proposal viz. Concession Agreements in certain key sectors like transportation and energy including analysis of key issues in relation to granting of Concession Agreements, Competition Concerns, experience of competition concerns that have arisen in other jurisdictions and role of the Competition Commission of India. The study suggests that CCI should commence a dialogue with the Planning Commission and each of the sector regulators as well as the various ministries of the Government of India and the State Governments that are actively granting concession agreements. The dialogue should focus on highlighting the competition concerns during the life cycle of the concession agreement and how to ensure that they are taken into account while structuring, granting and implementing the concession agreement, so as to mitigate any potential challenges against them.

The study on “Public Enterprises, Government Policy and Impact on Competition: Indian Steel Industry” was commissioned to Indicus Analytics Pvt Ltd. The overall objective of the study was to examine the nature and state of competition in the Indian steel industry. The study suggests removal of export/import curbs which are clearly a pro-competitive measure. The study also suggests that the overseer of the steel sector should be the Competition Commission of India as the issues of concerns fall in their domain. Any suggestion of setting up an independent steel regulator goes against the standard philosophy of regulation.

The study on “Public Enterprises, Government Policy and Impact on Competition: Indian Petroleum Industry” was commissioned to Indicus Analytics Pvt Ltd. with an overall objective to examine the nature and state of competition in Petroleum Refining. The study indicates that domestic market is close to a monopoly. The study suggests that the most expeditious way of introducing competition is freeing imports. There cannot be competition in exploration and production if refining and distribution are concentrated; and there cannot be competition in refining unless crude is freely importable. Hence the first condition for a more competitive market is absence of restrictions on foreign trade.

The study was commissioned to IIT-Kharagpur. The objective of the study was to enquire into the development of jurisprudence in India in the field of creation of intellectual property rights and competition law in general, and the impact of product patent law on India’s competition policy and law, in particular. Research under this study was confined to the pharmaceutical and chemical industries in India. The study shows that there is likely to be a trend to restrict production by exclusive license since the number of exclusive licenses granted by the patent holders has increased in the course of last two years. This also has an adverse impact on the price and ‘affordability’. It is suggested that a comprehensive policy on ‘compulsory license’ may be framed taking in view the gross abuse of dominant position by the ‘patent holder’ and ‘the licensee’. 

The study on “Competition Issues in the Air Transport Sector in India” was commissioned to Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad. The overall objective of the study was to look at the issue of competition at two levels – air transport and airports. The other objectives of the study were to provide a market overview, discuss any significant anti-competitive practices by various players and their effects, address implications of this study for Competition Policy and Law in India, and outline issues for advocacy for India’s Competition Commission. The study pointed out that there is some evidence of price parallelism. This may not be termed as price collusion. However, CCI may monitor the pricing of the dominant airlines in particular. In general, inter airport competition is limited all over the world, because of various reasons, partly because relatively few cities are served by two or more airports and also because there are economies of scale in the provision of airports. Airports around the world are subject to significant regulation and also to State ownership. Creation of new airports, expansion of airports and ensuring inter airport competition are important in preserving and promoting a competitive environment in the air transport sector.

The study on "Cartel Case Laws in Select Jurisdictions - Learnings for the Competition Commission of India" was commissioned jointly to CUTS International, Jaipur and National Law University, Jodhpur. The overall objective of the study was to analyse cartel case laws in select jurisdictions - Learnings for the Competition Commission of India. The study suggests that CCI should educate business houses/associations on cartels as there have been instances where business houses or associations form a cartel without having an understanding of the fact that their actions would come in the ambit of being a cartel. The practices become norms without proper knowledge of cartelization.