CCI fines Intel Rs 27.38 crore for abuse of dominance in India over warranty policy

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 27.38 crore on Intel Corporation for abusing its dominant position in the market for boxed micro processors for desktops in India.

In an order dated February 12, 2026, passed under Section 27 of the Competition Act, 2002, the antitrust regulator held that Intel had contravened Section 4 of the Act through its India-specific warranty policy.

The case originated from an information filed by Matrix Info Systems Private Limited under Section 19(1)(a) of the Act. The complainant alleged that Intel amended its warranty policy for India with effect from April 25, 2016.

Under the revised policy, warranty requests for Intel Boxed Micro Processors in India would be entertained only if the products were purchased from an authorised Indian distributor.

As a result, customers who purchased boxed micro processors from Intel’s authorised distributors in other countries were denied warranty benefits in India and were redirected to the country of purchase to avail warranty services.

Based on the evidence, the Commission held that Intel was dominant in the relevant market of boxed micro processors for desktops in India. It found the India Specific Warranty Policy to be discriminatory when compared with Intel’s warranty policies in China, Australia and other markets.

“The Commission also found the aforesaid policy to have limited the choice of consumers and parallel importers and thereby causing an appreciable adverse effect on Indian consumers. Accordingly, the Commission found the conduct of Intel in contravention of provisions of Section 4 of the Act,” the order stated.

The regulator noted that the policy remained in force for eight years. It calculated the penalty at 8 per cent of Intel’s average relevant turnover during this period. However, taking into account mitigating factors, including the discontinuation of the policy with effect from April 1, 2024, the Commission reduced the final penalty to Rs 27.38 crore.

The CCI has also directed Intel to widely publicise the withdrawal of the impugned warranty policy and submit a compliance report. The order adds to a series of enforcement actions against large technology companies.

In 2022, the regulator imposed two separate penalties totalling Rs 2,274.20 crore on Google for abuse of dominance in relation to Android mobile devices and Play Store policies.

In November 2024, it levied a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on Meta in the 2021 WhatsApp privacy policy case. The Commission’s investigation arm has also reported findings in an ongoing case concerning Apple’s App Store policies, with the matter currently under adjudication.

Earlier this year, Apple moved the Delhi High Court seeking relief against the CCI’s move to access its global financial records in connection with the ongoing antitrust probe.