IP House, ISB study says counterfeit goods reach most Indian consumers

New research from IP House and the Indian School of Business says counterfeit products remain widespread in India, with many buyers unaware they purchased fakes. The findings link counterfeiting to consumer safety risks, criminal networks and weak visibility across retail channels.

Why it matters: - Counterfeit goods are not just a pricing problem in India. The report frames them as a consumer safety, public health and trust issue. - The findings suggest many shoppers cannot reliably tell authentic products from fakes in everyday purchasing. - The report says awareness gaps can weaken reporting and help counterfeit networks stay hidden.

What happened: - IP House and the Indian School of Business Institute of Data Science released Counterfeit Crisis in India: Consumers, Consumption and Consequences on July 26, 2026. - The report says nearly four in five Indian consumers have bought a counterfeit product at least once. - More than half of those buyers did not realize the product was fake at the time of purchase. - The research focuses on six high-risk categories: medicines, food and beverages, electronics, children's toys, cosmetics and automobile parts. - The report examines how consumers view links between counterfeiting and organized crime.

The details: - The study used a nationally distributed YouGov survey of more than 1,000 online urban Indian consumers. - The report also draws on sector analysis and documented cases of counterfeit-related harm. - The research says fakes move through street markets, online marketplaces, social media and physical retail. - The report says 62% of respondents recognize counterfeit products as a serious risk to consumer health. - Only 44% initially identified the sale of counterfeits as a crime. - After organized crime was clearly defined, 56% agreed criminal networks are involved in making, distributing and selling counterfeit products. - After that definition, 50% said public awareness of organized crime's role is important for protecting consumers. - The report says counterfeiting can generate substantial profits at relatively low risk for transnational criminal networks. - The report says counterfeit and contaminated medicines have been linked to treatment failures and child deaths. - The report says methanol-laced illicit liquor has caused mass fatalities in multiple states. - The report says unsafe electronics, toys and auto parts can injure consumers before the problem is detected.

Between the lines: - The report argues counterfeiting is often treated as a bargain issue, not a crime problem. - That perception gap matters because lower stigma can reduce reporting and make enforcement harder. - Trust in familiar platforms may lower vigilance online, even when counterfeit risk remains high. - The findings point to a broader shift in anti-counterfeiting strategy from consumer warnings alone to technology-led detection and disruption.

What's next: - The report calls for more consistent, intelligence-led enforcement across police, customs, regulators, online platforms and brand owners. - It recommends specialized intellectual property and consumer safety task forces for high-risk categories. - It also calls for consumer education that explains how to verify, avoid and report suspected counterfeits. - ISB says it will continue working on evidence-based technologies and policy frameworks that strengthen trust in India's digital and physical marketplaces.

The bottom line: - The report says counterfeit goods in India are widespread, hard to spot and tied to real harm, making consumer protection a coordinated enforcement problem rather than a simple shopping choice.