The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has successfully implemented a tighter 150-day approval timeline for mergers and acquisitions, significantly reducing uncertainty for investors and lenders. Between September 2024 and March 2026, the CCI cleared 194 merger cases, with most receiving approval within the initial 30-day review. Only two transactions required deeper scrutiny, both cleared within the overall timeline. This shift follows the Competition (Amendment) Act 2023, which aims to enhance regulatory efficiency by lowering the maximum approval period from 210 days to 150 days. Legal experts note that faster approvals not only streamline deal closures but also lower costs and risks associated with financing. However, despite the improved approval process, India's M&A activity has faced a downturn, with total deal value dropping 44.5% year-on-year to $17.4 billion in early 2026.