What is Competition Law
Competition law is a crucial branch of public law that emphasises on preserving a competitive market and preventing monopolistic practices. This branch of law provides protection to consumers while ensuring a level playing field for companies by regulating monopolistic behaviour, mergers and acquisitions, and other practices that may harm competition in the market. Several courses are offered in Competition Law providing specialised knowledge and skills in this field. These Competition Law courses equip learners with understanding of various competition law aspects, including laws, policies, and regulatory framework.
By pursuing Competition Law courses, students will learn the principles governing anti-competitive behaviour and understand how to deal with it. They will also gain the skills necessary for legal practice in this field. Those who are willing to choose competition law can enrol in LLM programmes with a specialisation in competition law, including LLM Competition Law. There are also Diploma, Post Graduate Diploma, and certificate course in competition law such as Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Law.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Competition Law
To pursue Competition Law courses, students need to meet certain eligibility criteria defined by the respective colleges/universities. The eligibility criteria for Competition Law courses in India may vary significantly depending on the specific programme and institution. Students must ensure they fulfil all the requirements before applying for their preferred institution or program. We have discussed below the Competition Law course eligibility criteria for different levels.
To be eligible for Competition Law courses, students must be Graduate in a relevant discipline from a recognised university or institute. They should have scored at least 50% marks in their undergraduate degree with a focus on economics/commerce/law. Some colleges also require candidates to have successfully qualified written examinations or personal interviews.
Top Entrance Examinations for Competition Law
There are various entrance exams conducted by law colleges/universities for the admission to competition law courses. These exams are organised at central levels by National Law Universities (NLUs) as well as state levels. Here, we have mentioned the top entrance examinations for Competition Law course in India.
CLAT: CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a national-level entrance exam held for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law courses, including LLM programmes. The exam is conducted by National Law Universities (NLUs) annually that provides law aspirants with an opportunity to get admission into NLUs and other prominent law colleges in India.
CLAT Syllabus | CLAT Exam Pattern |
CLAT Eligibility | CLAT Cutoff |
CLAT Counselling | CLAT Preparation Tips |
AILET: AILET (All India Law Entrance Test ) is national-level law entrance exam conducted by the National Law University, Delhi, for admission to its law programmes, including LLM courses. The exam has two sections - English and Legal reasoning.
AILET Syllabus | AILET Exam Pattern |
AILET Eligibility | AILET Cutoff |
AILET Counselling | AILET Prepartion Tips |
AP PGLCET: AP PGLCET (Andhra Pradesh Post Graduate Law Common Entrance Test) is a state-level law entrance exam. The exam is conducted for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes, including LLM courses.
Many other competition law entrance exams include LSAT India, ILI CAT, Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) Entrance Exam and ILSAT.
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Scope of Competition Law in India and Abroad
The scope of competition law is vast in India and abroad. Competition law is a very powerful and all-round option in the field of law. It applies to all sectors of the economy, from large businesses to small as well as public sector entities across the country. Both the government sector as well as the private sector has a number of opportunities for Competition Law course graduates in various positions and roles.
There are various activities included in field of competition law in India. This ranges from cartels, price fixing arrangements and abuses of dominant positions by market participants to collusive bidding and other forms of bid rigging. Outside India, the frameworks of competition law may differ. However, the fundamental objective remains the same that is to ensure fair competition and prohibit anti-competitive behaviours, agreements or arrangements.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the regulatory authority in India and has ample vacancies for different people with different law degrees. After pursuing law, economics, business management, or related courses, students can find a variety of scope and employment opportunities in competition law.
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Course Subjects
The subjects and syllabus of Competition Law may vary depending across law colleges or institutions in India. The Competition Law course syllabus is designed to enable students to take up professional practice in the competition law and policy field. Here, we have mentioned the competition law topics covered in the one-year LLM syllabus of the University of Pune.
Basic economic and legal principles | Development of law from MRTP to Competition Act 2002 |
Competition Commission Of India | Competition Appellate Tribunal |
Composition, Functions, Powers and Procedure | Award Compensation |
Power to punish for contempt | Execution of orders |
Careers in Competition Law
After completing competition law courses, students will explore numerous career opportunities available in the competition law field. They work as lawyers in government sectors, private practice, corporate counsels for large companies or small businesses. They can launch their careers as compliance officers at regulatory agencies or consultants advising clients on competition law issues. There are also academic and research careers that graduates can pursue after competition law courses. We have mentioned below some of the popular job roles Competition Law course graduates can explore after Competition Law courses.
Job Titles | Description |
Competition Lawyer | Competition Lawyers advise clients on compliance with competition laws. They represent them in competition-related cases, handle merger filings, and provide legal opinions on antitrust issues. |
Competition Law Consultant | A Competition Law Consultant work independently or with consulting firms, providing guidance to businesses (small or large) on competition compliance. He or she also conducts competition audits and assist with merger notifications and competition assessments. |
Policy Analyst | Policy Analysts assess competition-related issues, conduct research on competition law and economics and contribute to policy development. They also identify current or impending issues, examine proposed solutions, and create other solutions. |
In-house Counsel | In-house Counsel specialising in competition law drafts, reviews, and negotiates various contracts and agreements. They provide legal advice on competition compliance and review business practices, while ensuring the company's activities align with competition laws. |
Independent Practitioner | Independent Practitioners emphasise enforcement issues such as information filing, defending medium-sized businesses, and more. They can also hire young law practitioners with experience in both business and civil disputes. |
Upcoming trends
In the last few years, the competition law course in India has garnered significant attention from young law practitioners. The course provides them with the understanding of the implications of changing regulations and make their business decisions effectively. It is important for students and professionals in competition law to keep up-to-date with the latest trends in this field so that they can make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. We have discussed below some of the upcoming trends and topics in competition law.
Digital Markets and Antitrust: Competition law has a crucial role to play in the digital economy where the dominance of digital platforms increasing as the market is moving online. This trend can explore topics such as digital platform dominance, data privacy, data-driven mergers, and the role of competition authorities in regulating digital platforms.
Enforcement and Remedies: In this topic, the focus is greatly on the practical aspects of competition law enforcement and remedies. It deals with the powers and functions of the competition authority, the adjudicatory procedure, investigative processes, and the remedies available in cases of anti-competitive behaviour.
Merger Control and Acquisitions: Merger control is a key area within competition law. It covers the legal framework for merger control, the evaluation of anti-competitive effects, and the role of competition authorities in examining mergers and acquisitions to protect market competition.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Competition Law courses open up a variety of opportunities for students, allowing them to pursue a career in the legal profession. As the course equip students with every aspect of competition law, they can employment as lawyers specialising in competition law. They can even work for government agencies responsible for enforcing such laws. There are many government agencies and departments and private firms that recruit Competition Law graduates to maintain competition law and policy.
Some of the top recruiters in competition law are mentioned below.
- AZB & Partners
- Khaitan & Co.
- Ernst & Young (EY)
- PwC
- Competition Commission of India (CCI)
- Academia and Research Institutions
- International Organisations
Average Salary
The salary of a professional in competition law highly vary depending on the individual's qualifications and experience. It is also dependent on job roles, job positions, industry, organisation, and location. The average salary of a professional specialising in competition law can range from Rs. 6 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs per annum. We have mentioned below the competition law salary trends based on different competition law job profiles.
Job Profiles | Average Salary |
Legal Associates | Rs. 4.5 LPA |
Lawyer | Rs. 9 LPA |
Senior Consultant | Rs. 16 LPA |
Legal Counsel | Rs. 15 LPA |
Professor | Rs. 13 LPA |
Required Skillset for Competition Law
Students seeking to pursue Competition Law courses require a mix of soft skills and technical competencies which enable them to effectively navigate the intricacies of competition and antitrust law. The table below highlights some popular skill sets required for Competition Law courses.
Time management | Integrity |
Excellent communication | Critical thinking |
Analytical mindset | Research |
Investigation skills | Detail-oriented |
Pursuasion skills | Industry knowledge |
Course Curriculum for Competition Law
The Competition Law course curriculum varies depending on the level of the course and across institution. The courses covered in the curriculum of competition law equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the laws that govern competition in the economy. We have mentioned below the courses taught in the Constitution Law course curriculum.
- Nature and scope of competition law and policy
- Anti Competitive agreement
- Abuse of dominant position
- Regulation of combinations & enforecement mechanisms
- Modern dimensions of competition law
Popular Competition Law Entrance Exams in India
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What are the competition law PG courses in India?
Answer :
There are three postgraduate courses offered with specialisation in competition law - MA offered by NLU Kolkata, LLM offered by IIT Kharagpur, and a PG diploma offered by ILS Law College, Pune.
Question: Which colleges offer competition law courses in India?
Answer :
Top institutes offering competition law courses in India include ILS Law College, Pune, IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal National University of Juridical Science (NUJS), and NLU Kolkata, West Bengal.
Question: Which cities in India are the best for working in competition law?
Answer :
Most of the practices associated with competition law are concentrated in Delhi and Mumbai as the office of Directorate General, NCLAT, and CCI all are sitted in these reagions. Most of the multinational companies also have their head offices in Mumbai and in other cities. Besides, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore are also big hubs of commercial activities. So, one can find ample opportunities to work here in the field of competition law, especially, in the corporate sector.
Question: What are the main areas where competition law graduates can build their career?
Answer :
The main sectors where one can get placed after completing a competition law course include litigation, academics, judiciary, civil services, MNCs, law firms, corporate counsels taxation firms, regulatory bodies, and also work as aw clerks or assistants.