The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has raised concerns over Zomato's newly introduced long-distance delivery fees and associated contract clauses, arguing that these measures add undue cost pressures on restaurants without prior consultation or transparency. The association has engaged in initial discussions with Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal and plans to meet later in the month to address these concerns.

In response to media speculation, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) clarified that its strategic collaboration with ONDC remains active, aiming to build a sustainable, open, and fair digital ecosystem for India's food businesses.

NRAI and ONDC have reaffirmed their ongoing, inclusive, and transparent engagement in digital commerce, refuting recent speculative reports about a pause in their collaboration. The announcement emphasizes a robust framework that empowers food businesses and ensures long‐term value creation through equitable practices.

Data from OpenSecrets indicates that during the 2024 cycle, the National Restaurant Association reported contributions of $978,168 and lobbying expenditures amounting to $3,490,000. These figures suggest significant efforts to influence political processes.

The National Restaurant Association of India sent a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging a range of policy measures including GST reforms, reinstatement of the Service Export from India Scheme, industry status designation, and the introduction of employee welfare plans, aiming to boost the restaurant sector and support fair labor practices.

The National Restaurant Association of India PAC contributed $563,000 to various federal candidates during the 2023-2024 election cycle. The contributions, detailed by OpenSecrets, were allocated to multiple candidates, many of whom are Republicans with records that raise concerns about authoritarian-leaning policies.