According to the advisory issued by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, retailers in India are instructed not to ask for customers' personal contact information or mobile phone numbers when providing certain services.

This advisory was issued in response to consumer complaints, where customers reported that retailers refused to provide services unless they shared their contact information.

The Consumer Affairs Secretary, Rohit Kumar Singh, stated that under the Consumer Protection Act, this practice is considered unfair and restrictive.

There is no logical reason for retailers to collect personal contact information in order to generate bills. Singh also expressed concerns regarding privacy.

The advisory has been sent to the retail industry, as well as industry chambers like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and FICCI, urging them to resolve this issue in the best interests of consumers.

It is important to note that customers in India are not legally obligated to provide their mobile numbers to retailers in order to generate bills.

When retailers insist on obtaining a single number to complete a transaction, it puts customers in an awkward position, especially when they are not given an opt-out option.