Key Points
Key Points: The Consumer in the MarketPlace
- Consumers participate in the market by purchasing goods and services for their use.
- Individual consumers are often in a weak position compared to powerful producers and sellers.
- Consumers can be exploited through unfair practices like overcharging, false information, and defective goods.
- Rules and regulations are needed to protect consumers from exploitation in the marketplace.
- Consumer movements and government actions help ensure consumer rights and fair trade practices.
Key Points: Consumer Movement
- The consumer movement arose due to dissatisfaction with unfair practices by sellers.
- Earlier, consumers had no proper legal system to protect them from exploitation.
- Consumer organisations were formed to create awareness and protect consumer interests.
- In India, the consumer movement began in the 1960s to fight against unfair trade practices.
- The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (COPRA) strengthened consumer rights and protection.
Key Points: Learning to Become Well-Informed Consumers
- Consumers need knowledge and awareness to make informed choices while buying goods and services.
- The Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) has helped spread consumer awareness through government departments and campaigns.
- Certification marks like ISI, Agmark, and Hallmark assure consumers about the quality of products.
- Some essential products affecting health and safety must be compulsorily certified.
- Being well-informed helps consumers protect themselves from poor-quality and unsafe products.
Key Points: Taking the Consumer Movement Forward
- India observes 24 December as National Consumers’ Day to mark the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
- The consumer movement in India has grown, with many consumer groups working across the country.
- The consumer redressal process is often time-consuming, costly, and requires legal help.
- COPRA was amended in 2019 to strengthen consumer protection, especially for online purchases.
- Despite progress, consumer awareness and proper enforcement of laws are still weak, and active participation is needed.
Key Points: Consumer Rights
- Consumers have the right to safety against goods and services that are hazardous to life and property.
- Producers must follow safety rules and ensure the good quality of products and services.
- Consumers have the right to be informed about price, quality, quantity, ingredients, and risks of products.
- Consumers have the right to choose from a variety of goods and services at competitive prices.
- Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices and exploitation.
- Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions are set up at the district, state, and national levels under COPRA.
- Consumer organisations and consumer courts help protect consumer rights and provide justice.
