New Delhi, Dec. 9 -- Amid growing use of AI-powered agentic shopping, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday highlighted measures to prevent the digital exclusion of small businesses, local traders, and MSMEs.

Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada noted that agentic shopping is increasingly shaping consumer behavior and digital commerce.

Agentic commerce is a new form of online shopping in which an AI agent completes tasks such as searching for items, comparing them and making a purchase with minimal or no manual inputs from users.

While this innovation enhances convenience for consumers, it poses challenges for retailers, particularly those not integrated with major e-...