Anti-competitive agreements are arrangements between enterprises or individuals that prevent, restrict, or distort competition in a market. Such agreements are designed to limit the freedom of businesses to operate independently, manipulate market conditions, or exploit consumers unfairly. The purpose of laws regulating anti-competitive agreements, such as the Competition Act in India, is to promote fair competition, protect consumer interests, and ensure efficient allocation of resources in the market. Anti-competitive agreements are generally considered harmful because they can lead to higher prices, reduced quality of goods and services, less innovation, and limited choices for consumers. These agreements can exist in various forms, and they are broadly categorized into horizontal and vertical agreements based on the level of participants in the market and their relationship with one another. Horizontal agreements are those that occur between enterprises operating at the same level of the supply chain or in the same industry. These agreements are typically formed among competitors and are designed to restrict competition by coordinating actions that would otherwise be determined independently in a competitive market. One of the most common types of horizontal anti-competitive agreements is price-fixing, where competitors agree to set a uniform price for goods or services, eliminating price competition. This practice harms consumers by keeping prices artificially high and