Facing mounting scrutiny, Apple Inc. risks penalties in India as the Competition Commission of India accelerates its antitrust case and schedules a final hearing.
India’s antitrust regulator has moved to expedite proceedings against Apple Inc. after the company failed to submit financial data and its response to an investigation into alleged abuse of dominance in the iPhone applications market.
According to a Reuters report, in an order dated 8 April 2026, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) stated that Apple had not provided the required financial disclosures or comments on the probe findings since October 2024. The regulator typically requires such information to determine penalties for violations.
The CCI has now scheduled a final hearing for 21 May 2026 and granted Apple an additional two weeks to file its submissions. The move is seen as a step towards concluding the long-running case, which began in 2021 following complaints from a non-profit organisation and later opposition from companies including Match Group and several Indian startups.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing and argues that it holds a limited share of India’s smartphone market, where devices running Google’s Android system dominate.
However, the regulator’s investigative arm concluded in 2024 that the company leveraged its position in the iOS ecosystem to require app developers to use its in-app purchase system.
The CCI order noted that Apple had been given sufficient opportunities to present its objections but had not complied. Instead, the company cited a pending challenge before the Delhi High Court, in which it has contested India’s antitrust penalty framework and requested a pause in the proceedings.
The regulator rejected that request, indicating that the legal challenge could not delay the current case. Legal experts say the fixing of a hearing date signals a firmer stance by the watchdog and may limit Apple’s ability to contest the scale of any penalty if financial data is not submitted in time.
