1 November 2026 • 6 min read
"How do I sell on ONDC?" has two different answers, depending on whether you sell products or build the software that sells them. Most blog posts mix the two. This page separates them and uses ONDC's own network policy and government papers wherever it can. It is written for founders and product managers in India, as of 1 November 2026.
ONDC describes itself as infrastructure, not an app. It was launched in April 2022 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and it runs as a not-for-profit company. It does not hold your shop. Someone else does.
| You are | You join as | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| A brand, shop or D2C seller | A seller on a Seller Network Participant's app | The app connects you to the network, digitises your catalogue and pays you out |
| A company building seller software | A Network Participant yourself | You apply to ONDC and pass its certification |
A Nagaland government checklist for small traders lists the ways to join: through a seller-aggregating Seller Network Participant; directly as a Network Participant with the tech integration and operations; or directly as a Network Participant with operations, using a technology service provider for the integration. Most small sellers take the first route.
ONDC's seller page says a Seller Network Participant is responsible for connecting sellers to the network through a seller application. The same page says it digitises the seller's catalogue, disperses payments, and trains sellers in e-commerce practice.
So your onboarding is with the app, not with ONDC. That has three practical results.
Documents. I did not find a document list for merchants in ONDC's own papers. The list is set by the seller app you pick. Ask for it in writing before you start. (The identity details in ONDC's own application form are for companies that join as network participants, not for shop owners.)
Fees. ONDC's commercial chapter defines a Seller App Fee as a percentage of the total order value or a fixed amount per successful order, charged to the seller for listing their catalogue items. The rate is between you and the app. Compare it across at least three apps. ONDC itself may charge network participants a nominal fee on each successful transaction, with a notice at least 30 days before it starts, so check whether your app passes that on.
Price. The network policy says the declared price should not be more than the MRP. The participant that offers a discount bears its cost, so a buyer app's own discount is that app's cost.
Your commercial terms, such as price, shipping and warranty, are between you, your app, the buyer app and the logistics provider. ONDC says it does not involve itself in them.
Network Policy Chapter 1 (version 2.1, 5 December 2024) sets the rules.
Eligibility. An inventory-based seller app must be a business registered or incorporated under Indian law, with an active TAN and PAN. A marketplace-based seller app or a buyer app must be a company, again with active TAN and PAN. A seller node that only sells its own products is an inventory node. One that lists other people's products is a marketplace node.
The process, in order:
If your app comes from a technology service provider that ONDC has certified, ONDC may exempt you from submitting the technical details in step 5. This can shorten the route for a brand that wants its own app without building the protocol layer.
Security. The policy asks for specific cryptography: the BLAKE2b hashing algorithm to detect alteration of order data, and the Ed25519 signing algorithm to sign transactions. Private keys must be kept in a secure wallet. If a key leaks, the participant is responsible for actions taken with it until the key is revoked. Treat key rotation as a product feature, not an afterthought.
Settlement. Participants must settle with each other under the Reconciliation and Settlement Framework, with exemptions for some domains and cases. Build that into your finance plan before you build the catalogue sync.
The Ministry of MSME launched a sub-scheme, the MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing Initiative, that aims to help five lakh MSMEs onboard ONDC. According to PIB (4 January 2025), it offers financial assistance to micro and small enterprises through Seller Network Participants, for catalogue preparation, account management, logistics and packaging. If you are a micro or small business, ask the app whether it handles claims under this scheme. I have not checked whether it is still open.
The same PIB note says ONDC's reach was 616+ cities as on 2 January 2024. Treat it as a 2024 figure, not a current one.
ONDC's own site loads its participant registry by script, so I could not read a current list of seller apps or live participant numbers. I also did not open any seller app's price page. Check the live registry on ondc.org before you pick an app. For legal or tax questions on selling through ONDC, speak to a professional.
Not as a shop owner. You join through a Seller Network Participant's app. A company can apply to ONDC directly, but only as a Network Participant with the technical and operational capability.
It depends on the seller app. ONDC's papers do not set a merchant list, so ask your chosen app. Companies applying as Network Participants need their legal name as per GSTN, PAN, TAN and GST number.
ONDC may charge network participants a nominal per-transaction fee, with at least 30 days' notice. The seller app's own fee is separate and is set in your agreement with the app.
An inventory seller node is an app run by a seller that sells its own products. A marketplace seller node offers goods and services provided by other sellers.
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