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By:

Bhaskar Nath Biswal

13 May 2026 at 8:30:30 pm

E-Commerce’s Hidden Threat

The modern Indian marketplace no longer echoes exclusively with the chaotic bustle of traditional bazaars. Instead, it thrives within the silent, instantaneous clicks of smartphone screens. From monthly groceries to high-end electronics, digital retail has fundamentally altered how households across the country consume goods. This transition has undoubtedly unleashed unprecedented convenience, democratizing access to products for millions living outside metro cities. However, this...

E-Commerce’s Hidden Threat

The modern Indian marketplace no longer echoes exclusively with the chaotic bustle of traditional bazaars. Instead, it thrives within the silent, instantaneous clicks of smartphone screens. From monthly groceries to high-end electronics, digital retail has fundamentally altered how households across the country consume goods. This transition has undoubtedly unleashed unprecedented convenience, democratizing access to products for millions living outside metro cities. However, this hyper-connected landscape has also exposed a deeply troubling reality. As digital storefronts expand, so does the shadowy ecosystem of cybercriminals eager to exploit the trust and vulnerabilities of unsuspecting shoppers. The digital transaction, once celebrated as a triumph of modern engineering, is increasingly fraught with unseen hazards. Protecting consumers from e-shopping fraud has now become an urgent national imperative. Fraud Surge The sheer scale of India’s e-commerce revolution provides vital context for why online shopping has become such a high-stakes arena. Recent market estimates indicate that India’s e-commerce economy has surged well beyond $140 billion, driven by over 300 million active digital shoppers. Projections show this user base rapidly swelling toward 400 million, largely fuelled by deep internet penetration, affordable smart phones and seamless payment infrastructure like the Unified Payments Interface across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Yet, this remarkable surge in commercial volume has been mirrored by an equally dramatic escalation in cybercrime statistics. Official records from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal reveal that citizens have filed over 3.8 million cyber fraud complaints, representing staggering financial losses exceeding Rs. 36,000 crore, with a significant portion stemming from fraudulent online retail schemes. Perhaps most alarming is the historical recovery rate, where less than one percent of stolen funds is successfully returned to victims once transactions cross cyber borders. Despite the pervasive presence of online threats, digital consumers frequently fall into predictable traps that expose them to severe risk. A primary misstep is the failure to maintain basic password hygiene, with millions of shoppers reusing weak or identical passwords across multiple e-commerce platforms and email accounts, enabling attackers to execute swift cascading breaches. Furthermore, shoppers frequently bypass critical verification steps in pursuit of speed, such as failing to verify whether a website domain uses secure, encrypted connections before typing in card credentials. Another widespread oversight is performing financial transactions over unsecured public Wi-Fi networks in cafes or transport hubs, which allows bad actors to intercept sensitive data packets in transit. Many consumers also neglect regular software updates on their smartphones, leaving unpatched security vulnerabilities wide open to malware. Above all, emotional urgency remains the greatest weakness. Impulsive buyers frequently ignore glaring red flags, such as suspicious payment requests or unverified seller profiles. Decoding Scams Recognizing that awareness is the frontline of defence, key industry players and digital safety advocates have begun taking structured action. A prominent example is the consumer handbook, ‘Your Guide to Safe Online Shopping’, developed by Safer Internet India and commissioned by Amazon. The initiative aims to demystify complex cyber security concepts and provide consumers with actionable, real-world tools to navigate the digital marketplace safely. The handbook shines a bright light on the most prevalent fraudulent tactics currently plaguing buyers. To combat these threats, the safety guide emphasizes a multi-layered approach to consumer protection. It urges shoppers to verify web addresses meticulously, refrain from sharing one-time passwords and avoid conducting transactions off authorized brand platforms. Equally important, the guide bridges the gap between technical vigilance and legal empowerment by outlining explicit consumer rights under Indian laws and detailing formal grievance redressal mechanisms. A sustainable defence against online shopping fraud requires an integrated, multi-stakeholder strategy that aligns consumer awareness, corporate accountability and robust law enforcement. E-commerce platforms must continue investing aggressively in advanced artificial intelligence tools to detect cloned websites, eliminate fake merchant accounts and intercept suspicious payment flows before they reach consumers. Concurrently, regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies must strengthen real-time intervention frameworks, expanding initiatives like the 1930 cyber crime helpline and emergency account-freezing protocols to minimize financial damage when breaches happen. On the demand side, continuous public awareness campaigns, modelled after comprehensive handbooks, must reach deep into semi-urban and rural regions where first-time internet users are most susceptible to manipulation. Ultimately, building a safe digital shopping environment is about preserving trust. Only when digital literacy keeps pace with technological innovation can India truly reap the economic rewards of its e-commerce revolution without sacrificing the security of its citizens. (The writer is a former college Principal and Founder of Supporting Shoulders, an Odisha-based non-profit Trust. Views personal.)

Beyond the Bag: Labelling, Sealing, and Storing Waste Right

Segregation is not just about coloured bags—it’s about protecting people, reducing costs, and preserving the planet.

In my last article, I described the colour-coding system that was used for the segregation of biomedical waste. Let us explore this aspect a little further.


Segregation is not just about putting waste in different coloured bags—it’s about ensuring that each step, from labelling to sealing and storage, is handled with care and clarity. This section explains how healthcare facilities can implement segregation practically and the many advantages of doing it right, from safety to sustainability.


Occupiers can procure coloured bags or bins required for segregation directly from the operator of a common facility. These colour-coded bags and containers should be printed with the biohazard symbol and labelled with details such as date, type of waste, waste quantity, sender's name, and receiver's details, as well as barcode labels so that they can be tracked till final disposal.


These bags and sharps containers should be sealed and kept ready for collection once they are filled up to three-quarters of their capacity. These plastic bags should never be stapled but may be tied or sealed with a plastic tag or tie. Replacement bags or containers should be available at each waste-collection location so that once a bag is filled to its desired capacity, it can be readily replaced by a new one. In healthcare establishments, the segregation process is handled mostly by the housekeeping staff. Many of these waste handlers are uneducated and may not be able to read the instructions regarding segregation. For this, the CPCB has published a pictorial guide in which there are interactive, colourful posters displaying the process of segregation.


Advantages of segregation: Implementing a robust segregation programme is crucial for any healthcare facility aiming to manage its waste responsibly and effectively. Mixing the waste at the source of generation can have an adverse effect on the treatment process.


1. Enhanced Safety:

Reduces Occupational Hazards: Segregation minimises the risk of injury to healthcare workers and waste handlers from sharps (needles, etc.) and infectious materials.


Prevents Cross-Contamination: Proper segregation prevents the mixing of infectious waste with general waste, reducing the risk of disease transmission.


Improved Infection Control: By separating waste streams, healthcare facilities can implement more effective infection control measures, protecting patients, staff, and visitors from ‘nosocomial’ or ‘hospital-acquired’ infections.


1. Reduced Treatment Costs:

Each of the four categories of biomedical waste requires specific treatment because of its varied composition before disposal. Segregation ensures that only truly hazardous and infectious waste will be treated with specialised and often costly methods, reducing overall treatment costs.


Optimises Resource Allocation: By streamlining waste management processes, segregation allows for more efficient use of resources and potentially reduces waste disposal expenses.


2. Environmental Protection:

Prevents Environmental Pollution: Proper segregation prevents hazardous materials from contaminating soil and water sources, protecting the environment.


Promotes Recycling: Segregation enables the recycling of certain materials, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserving natural resources.


Reduces Landfill Volume: By segregating non-hazardous waste for recycling and composting, the volume of waste going to landfills is reduced.


3. Legal Compliance:

Adherence to Regulations: Effective segregation is often a requirement of national and international regulations for biomedical waste management, helping healthcare facilities avoid legal penalties.


Improved Reputation: Demonstrating a commitment to proper waste management through segregation can enhance a healthcare facility's reputation.


4. Promoting Sustainability:

Resource Conservation: Segregation facilitates the recycling and reuse of materials, promoting resource conservation and reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare facilities.


Reduced Carbon Footprint: By optimising waste management processes and promoting recycling, segregation contributes to a more sustainable healthcare system.


Proper segregation is the foundation of safe and sustainable biomedical waste management. It protects people, reduces treatment costs, and helps safeguard the environment, making it an essential practice for every healthcare facility.


(The author is an environmentalist.)

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