The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken strong action against the unauthorised sale of walkie-talkies on several e-commerce platforms. In a major move announced on 16 January 2026, the CCPA identified more than 16,970 non-compliant listings for these devices, which often operate on restricted radio frequencies without proper approvals. The authority has issued notices to e-commerce platforms selling such devices.
Walkie-talkies, also known as Personal Mobile Radios, are tightly regulated in India under laws such as the Indian Telegraph Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act. Only devices using a specific narrow frequency band (446.0–446.2 MHz) are allowed without a licence, and all must carry Equipment Type Approval (ETA) from the Department of Telecommunications.
However, it was found that many of the listed products worked in unauthorised Ultra High Frequency bands, such as 400-470 MHz or wider ranges, which is a regulated spectrum also used by police, emergency services, disaster response agencies and other critical communication networks. Several of the products were wrongly advertised as “licence-free” or “100% legal,” even though their use requires government approval. Some were even sold as toys with claimed ranges of up to 30 km, posing risks of interference with police, emergency services, and other critical communications.
Moreover, many product listings did not clearly mention important details such as the operating frequency or whether the device had Equipment Type Approval (ETA), making it difficult for consumers to know if the product was legal to buy and use. As per a press release issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, sellers of walkie talkies need to disclose the radio frequency range on which the device operates, whether the device requires a government licence, and whether it has obtained Equipment Type Approval (ETA). ETA is a mandatory technical approval issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to ensure that wireless devices are compliant, safe and permitted for use in India
The CCPA sent notices to 13 online entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, Meta (Facebook Marketplace), Talk Pro, Chimiya, MaskMan Toys, India Mart, TradeIndia, Antriksh Technologies, Vardaanmart and Krishna Mart.
Final orders have been issued in eight cases, with penalties of ₹10 lakh each imposed on Meesho, Flipkart, Amazon, and Meta. Smaller fines of ₹1 lakh each were placed on Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro, and MaskMan Toys. Proceedings continue against the remaining entities.
Examples of violations included large-scale sales on Meesho without proper seller checks, thousands of units sold on Flipkart and Amazon without required frequency or certification details, and misleading claims by Talk Pro about the legality of their devices. The authority stressed that such sales mislead consumers, expose them to legal risks, and threaten public safety and national security by potentially disrupting essential radio networks.
To stop future problems, the CCPA has issued new guidelines developed with input from the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Home Affairs. These rules require e-commerce platforms to verify frequency bands, check for ETA certification, ban misleading advertisements, and set up monitoring systems to block non-compliant listings. Platforms must also carry out regular self-audits and share compliance information publicly.
