The Competition Commission of India (CCI) may be in for another major overhaul. The government is likely to increase the number of professionals and experts on the commission to ensure higher efficiency, greater research, alertness about market practices and confidentiality of information.

The proposal says that the professionals-staff ratio should be 3:1 for the first five years and then increase gradually.

The proposed move is in step with the framework of other regulatory bodies that are represented mostly by professionals. The proposal is part of a report submitted by the Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore) for modifying the organisational structure and the staffing pattern of the CCI.

The report has also recommended increasing the staff strength of the commission as well as outsourcing of all non-core and non-confidential activities.

Sources said the government was still considering the proposal and a decision would be taken once the final report was submitted. The proposal, if approved, would lend more teeth to the body and strengthen its decision-making capabilities, the sources pointed out.

No Babugiri

• Proposal says the professionals-staff ratio should be 3:1 for the first five years and then increase gradually • Recommended that CCI staff strength be increased and non-core and non-confidential activities outsourced

This is in addition to the planned amendments to the Competition Act, 2002, and would lead to further changes in the present structure of the commission.

At present, the commission is headed by a chairman and has six other full-time members. The amendment proposes that the chairman should be the chief justice of India or his nominee.