India’s online shopping ecosystem has taken an important step toward fairer digital practices. The government has announced that 26 major e commerce platforms have declared themselves free of dark patterns. This announcement follows months of scrutiny from the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Central Consumer Protection Authority, both of which have been working to curb manipulative digital design practices.

Before understanding the significance of this declaration, it is important to understand what dark patterns are. Dark patterns are design tricks used on websites and apps to push users into choices they did not intend to make. These tricks play on human psychology and make the user feel pressured, confused or nudged into an action. Common examples include fake urgency messages like “Only one left”, hidden charges that appear only at the final payment stage, confusing subscription cancellations, pre selected add ons and ads disguised as genuine content. Because these designs manipulate user behaviour, they are considered unfair and harmful to consumers.

India addressed this issue in 2023 by releasing the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns. These guidelines officially identified and prohibited 13 types of manipulative practices. They included basket sneaking, drip pricing, subscription traps, bait and switch, confirm shaming and trick wording. Once these rules were issued, the government began reviewing major platforms to ensure compliance.

The latest development comes from this review. Platforms such as Flipkart, Meesho, Swiggy, Zomato, JioMart, BigBasket and several others have now submitted self declarations confirming that their interfaces do not use any of the banned dark patterns. Many of these companies carried out internal audits, and some hired third party auditors to evaluate their design practices. According to the Ministry, this step is part of a broader attempt to promote transparent and ethical digital commerce.

This move matters because dark patterns have become increasingly common as online shopping has grown. Many users do not realise when they are being influenced by design. Removing these techniques makes online shopping clearer and more honest. When platforms avoid hidden fees, misleading cues and confusing layouts, consumers can make decisions confidently based on accurate information.

The declaration is a positive signal, but it is only the beginning. Self certification works only when it is backed by continuous monitoring. Regulators will need to verify claims, audit platforms regularly and take action if violations are found. Consumer awareness is also crucial. People must know what dark patterns look like so they can report them when they appear. As India’s digital economy expands, protecting user rights and ensuring ethical online design will become even more important.

In the long run, eliminating dark patterns will help build trust between online businesses and their customers. The platforms that commit to clarity and fairness are more likely to gain long term loyalty. The announcement that 26 leading platforms are free of dark patterns marks an important step toward healthier digital commerce in India. Now the responsibility lies in maintaining that standard as the online marketplace continues to grow.