Ask AI

If you sell to Indian consumers, the usual structure is for an Indian entity to hold seller status and list. Without an entity, you can also go through an Indian import and sales partner.

No. The exception only opened for exports of goods made or produced in India; foreign investment is still not allowed in inventory models selling to Indian consumers.

Press Note 3 was issued on 23 July 2026 and took effect on 3 September 2026, when the amended FEMA non-debt instruments rules were published in the gazette.

The exception covers goods manufactured or produced in India. A structure that ships goods made outside India through an Indian warehouse is hard to fit within the wording.

Wholesale / cash & carry (100%, businesses only), single-brand retail (100%, 30% local sourcing above 51%), multi-brand retail (up to 51% with government approval), e-commerce (marketplace only, 100%).

Yes, since the 2019 amendment. But you must open a physical store within 2 years of starting online sales.

On paper up to 51% is open with government approval, but it needs at least US$100 million of investment and state government consent, and many states do not allow it, so it is hard to treat as a practical route.

Moving from wholesale to retail changes FDI caps and conditions, the business objects in your articles and your GST registration structure. Better to map out how you will sell a few years ahead from the start.

Stacking duty, logistics and margins on the Korean price usually puts you at the top of the market. Set the target consumer price first, then subtract distribution margins, GST, logistics and duty to set the ex-works price.

GlobalData expects Indian e-commerce, ₹17.5 lakh crore (about US$200.9 billion) in 2025, to grow 12.4% to ₹19.7 lakh crore (about US$225.9 billion) in 2026.

KITA named India, alongside Türkiye, Mexico and Thailand, as a new promising K-beauty market based on import demand, interest in Korea and market potential, and recommended online marketing centred on skincare basics such as vegan products.

From 16 March 2026, products under ₹1,000 pay no referral fee in about 1,800 categories. Above that, category fees are usually 2–16.5%, with shipping and closing fees on top.

Since November 2025, products under ₹1,000 carry zero commission, and everything on Shopsy is zero. From 8 July 2026, fashion is zero at any price.

Meesho was first to adopt a zero-commission seller model in 2021. Its shoppers skew low-price and non-metro, so check whether your price band fits first.

Korean-brand sales on Nykaa grew 58% in a year, and Tira is adding Korean exclusives. A specialist store plus Amazon is common, but it depends on price band and volume.

If one seller takes more than 25% of a platform's total sales, the platform may be seen as controlling inventory, so look hard at contracts that funnel large volumes before signing.

Platforms cannot influence the selling price, directly or indirectly. Keep a structure in which the seller, your Indian entity, sets prices.

The platform builds the filter, but the seller supplies the origin data. It has applied since 1 July 2026, and wrong data can get products taken down.

You must give the platform price, expiry, country of origin, returns and refunds, delivery and authenticity information, and Legal Metrology details (manufacturer, net quantity, MRP and more) must appear on screen.

No. The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules ban sellers from posting reviews as consumers or exaggerating quality.

If it isn't true, it may count as false urgency, one of the dark patterns. The CCPA bans 13 dark patterns.

Each platform fulfilment centre address needs your own additional place of business, and each state brings its own GSTIN and returns. Cross-state transport needs an e-Way Bill.

In August 2026 the six main platforms handled 9.5 million orders a day in total, and Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart took about four-fifths.

By daily orders: Blinkit 3.4–3.6 million, Zepto 2.4–2.6 million, Instamart 1.3–1.45 million (August 2026).

Nongshim reportedly began supplying 19 products to big Indian cities through Blinkit.

Listing and margin terms by platform are not published. They also depend on direct supply versus a distributor, so we check by product during the consultation.

Yes. Rule 10A applies to every e-commerce entity, including inventory models.

WhatsApp, Instagram and YouTube use is very high, so social marketing works well. Adullam runs campaigns mainly on these three channels.

If you have a material connection with the brand, include an easy-to-see label such as 'Ad' or 'Sponsored'. On photos put it on the image; on live streams show it throughout.

The CCPA can impose penalties up to ₹10 lakh, and ₹50 lakh for repeat violations, and can also ban endorsement activity.

ASCI is an industry self-regulatory body, but it publishes lists of violating influencers and brands and the CCPA backs its guidelines, so in practice you must follow them.

Extra disclosure guidelines for health and medical influencers came out in August 2023. Keep test or clinical evidence for efficacy claims.

A BCG report puts it at about 300 million and projects 440 million by 2030. About 45% are women and about 30% rural.

You need an IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). It must be renewed every year even if nothing changed.

HS 3304 (e.g. face cream) carries 20% basic customs duty plus a social welfare surcharge (10% of the duty), and IGST of 18% on the total.

An importer registered for GST can offset import IGST against sales GST, so it is not a final cost. But cash is tied up until it is credited.

Foreign manufacturers cannot apply directly; the Indian importer, subsidiary or agent authorised by the manufacturer applies on the CDSCO portal with Form COS-1.

A manufacturer authorisation, ingredient and concentration list, labels, test methods, free sale certificate, no-animal-testing declaration, heavy metals declaration and so on.

Get an FSSAI import licence and IEC, then obtain an NOC through FICS at customs. Labels must carry importer details and the FSSAI logo and licence number.

The manufacturer, packer or importer's name and address, country of origin, product name, net quantity, date of manufacture, MRP and customer-care contact.

Yes. MRP is the maximum retail price including all taxes, printed on the pack.

If your product, such as electronics, is on the mandatory list, you need BIS certification. Adullam Certification handles BIS, FSSAI and CDSCO together.

We set up the commerce and marketing division together with the Delhi entity in 2017, opened an India–Korea commerce site in 2018 and upgraded it to 2.0 in 2020.

We planned and ran K-POP pop-up stores in Bengaluru, Delhi and Chennai in 2023, and have a network of fan communities in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.

We support export marketing linked to KOTRA and NIPA programmes. Adullam was selected as an operator of NIPA's SW export marketing programme in 2018 and 2019.