Glossary of New Words (Chapter: Consumer Rights
)
- Consumer: An individual who buys goods or services for personal use.
- Consumer Exploitation: Unfair practices like overcharging, adulteration, and selling defective products.
- Consumer Movement: Collective efforts to protect consumer interests and rights.
- COPRA: Consumer Protection Act, 1986 - a law to safeguard consumer rights.
- Consumer Forum: A group or organization aiding consumers in resolving disputes.
- Redressal: Addressing grievances or compensating for damages caused to consumers.
- Adulteration: Mixing inferior substances into goods, reducing quality.
- Right to Safety: Protection against hazardous goods and services.
- Right to Information: Access to details about goods and services.
- Right to Redressal: Legal remedy for unfair practices or defective goods.
Timeline Based on the Chapter
- 1960s: Consumer movement gains momentum due to unethical trade practices like black marketing and food adulteration.
- 1985: United Nations adopts guidelines for consumer protection.
- 1986: India enacts Consumer Protection Act (COPRA).
- 1993: Establishment of District, State, and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions.
- 2005: Introduction of RTI (Right to Information) Act in India.
- 2019: Amendment to COPRA, strengthening consumer rights for e-commerce transactions.
- Present: Active consumer awareness campaigns and digital grievance redressal platforms.
Detailed Notes on Consumer Rights
Need for Consumer Awareness
- Consumers face exploitation due to limited knowledge about products and rights.
- Unfair practices include overpricing, defective goods, and false advertisements.
Consumer Movement
- Originated in response to exploitation and lack of legal protection.
- Aimed at creating awareness and ensuring implementation of consumer laws.
- COPRA (1986) established a framework for consumer rights and redressal mechanisms.
Rights of Consumers
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Right to Safety:
- Protects against hazardous goods.
- Example: Safety checks on LPG cylinders.
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Right to Information:
- Ensures transparency about product details like price, ingredients, and usage.
- Example: MRP labels on packaged goods.
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Right to Choose:
- Freedom to select from a variety of goods and services.
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Right to Redressal:
- Compensation for grievances caused by defective products or unfair trade.
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Right to Consumer Education:
- Promotes awareness about rights and responsibilities.
Role of COPRA
- Established consumer redressal forums at three levels:
- District Commission: Handles cases up to ₹1 crore.
- State Commission: Handles cases between ₹1 crore and ₹10 crore.
- National Commission: Handles cases above ₹10 crore.
Consumer Responsibilities
- Insist on bills and receipts.
- Verify certifications like ISI, Agmark, or Hallmark.
- Report defective or adulterated products to authorities.
Challenges in Consumer Movement
- Low awareness among rural consumers.
- Time-consuming redressal process.
- Need for stringent enforcement of consumer laws.
10 Short Answer Questions and Answers
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What is the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA)?
COPRA, enacted in 1986, ensures consumer rights, establishes redressal forums, and protects against unfair practices. It provides legal remedies and promotes consumer awareness. -
What are the rights of consumers under COPRA?
Consumers have rights to safety, information, choice, redressal, and education. These ensure protection against exploitation and promote fair trade. -
Why is consumer awareness important?
Awareness prevents exploitation, promotes informed decisions, and ensures fair practices. For example, checking MRP avoids overpricing. -
What is the role of consumer forums?
Consumer forums guide consumers on filing complaints, represent them in disputes, and create awareness about rights and responsibilities. -
What is the Right to Information?
This right ensures access to details about goods and services, like ingredients and expiry dates, enabling informed purchases. -
What is meant by redressal?
Redressal refers to compensating consumers for losses due to defective goods or unfair practices. Forums provide legal solutions for grievances. -
How can consumers exercise their Right to Safety?
By purchasing certified products like ISI-marked LPG cylinders and avoiding hazardous goods, consumers ensure their safety. -
What is the significance of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission?
This apex body handles cases above ₹10 crore, ensuring justice for consumers on a national scale. -
What are the responsibilities of consumers?
Consumers must demand bills, check product certifications, and report unethical practices to ensure accountability. -
How has COPRA impacted consumer protection?
COPRA has empowered consumers through rights, legal remedies, and forums, reducing exploitation and promoting fair trade.
5 Years CBSE Previous Year Questions
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What are the rights of consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986?
Answer: Right to safety, information, choice, redressal, and education. -
Why is COPRA significant for consumers?
Answer: It provides legal remedies, establishes redressal forums, and ensures consumer protection against unfair practices. -
Explain the need for consumer awareness with examples.
Answer: Awareness prevents overpricing and promotes fair trade. Example: Insisting on MRP ensures transparent pricing. -
What role do consumer forums play in resolving disputes?
Answer: Forums guide and represent consumers, ensuring grievances are addressed efficiently. -
Discuss the significance of consumer certification marks like ISI and Agmark.
Answer: These marks ensure product quality and safety, protecting consumers from hazardous goods.
1. Which logo of quality is marked on gold jewellery?(All India 2019)
Answer: The quality of gold jewellery is certified by the Hallmark logo.
2. How can consumers use their 'Right to Seek Redressal'? Explain with an example. (Delhi 2019)
Answer: Consumers can exercise their 'Right to Seek Redressal' by filing a complaint against unfair trade practices or exploitation. For instance, if a consumer purchases a defective product, they can approach the appropriate consumer court to seek compensation or replacement.
3. Highlight any three rights of consumers. All India 2019
Answer: Three fundamental consumer rights are:
- Right to Be Informed: Consumers have the right to know the details about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and price of goods or services.
- Right to Choose: Consumers should have access to a variety of products and services at competitive prices without coercion.
- Right to Seek Redressal: Consumers can seek compensation for unfair trade practices or exploitation.
4. Give an example of violation of consumer's right to choose. (All India 2017)
Answer: A violation occurs when a seller compels a consumer to buy a product they do not wish to purchase. For example, if a gas agency insists that a consumer must buy a gas stove along with a new gas connection, it infringes upon the consumer's right to choose.
5. If any damage is done to a consumer by a trader, under which consumer right can one move to consumer court to get compensation? (All India 2016)
Answer: In such cases, the consumer can invoke the Right to Seek Redressal, which allows them to approach a consumer court for compensation.
6. Suppose you have to buy a packed bottle of drinking water during your journey. Which logo would you like to see to be sure about its quality? (Delhi 2016)
Answer: To ensure quality, one should look for the ISI mark on the bottled water.
7. If you are not interested in buying a brush with toothpaste but the shopkeeper denies selling the toothpaste alone, which consumer right is being violated by the seller? (Foreign 2016)
Answer: This violates the Right to Choose, as consumers should have the freedom to purchase only the products they desire.
8. Which logo would you like to see on an electric heater to be sure of its quality? (Foreign 2016)
- Ans: The ISI mark indicates that the electric heater meets quality standards.
9. What is COPRA? When was it introduced? (Foreign 2016)
Answer: COPRA stands for the Consumer Protection Act, which was enacted in 1986 to protect consumer rights in India
10. What is the duty of a consumer?(2016)
Answer: Consumers have the duty to: - Be aware of their rights and responsibilities. - Insist on obtaining bills and receipts. - Check for quality certifications like ISI or Agmark. - Report any grievances to appropriate authorities.
11. Name the levels of consumer courts available for appeal. (2016)
Answer: The consumer dispute redressal system in India is structured into three levels: - District Forum: Handles cases involving claims up to ₹20 lakh. - State Commission: Deals with cases where claims are between ₹20 lakh and ₹1 crore. - National Commission: Addresses cases with claims exceeding ₹1 crore.
12. Why are rules and regulations required for the protection of consumers in the marketplace? (2016)
Answer: Rules and regulations are essential to: - Protect consumers from unfair trade practices like overpricing, adulteration, and substandard products. - Ensure that consumers have access to accurate information about products and services. - Provide a legal framework for addressing consumer grievances and disputes
13. What type of duties should a consumer keep in mind under consumer awareness? (2016) Answer: Consumers should: - Be vigilant about the quality and safety of products and services. - Educate themselves about their rights and the legal avenues available for redressal. - Actively participate in consumer awareness programs and initiatives.
14. Which logo would you like to see when purchasing electrical goods? (CBSE 2015)
Answer: The ISI mark is the standard certification for electrical goods, indicating compliance with quality and safety standards.
15. Suppose your parents want to purchase gold jewellery along with you. Which logo will you look for on the jewellery? (CBSE 2015)
Answer: The Hallmark logo certifies the purity and quality of gold jewellery.
16. How do large companies manipulate the markets? (CBSE 2015)Answer: Large companies may manipulate markets by: - Engaging in monopolistic practices to eliminate competition. - Using misleading advertisements to influence consumer choices. - Controlling supply chains to artificially inflate prices.
17. Explain with an example the impact of the Right to Information (RTI). (2015)
Answer: The Right to Information (RTI) Act empowers citizens to seek information from public authorities, promoting transparency and accountability. For example, a citizen can file an RTI application to inquire about the status of a government project, ensuring that public funds are utilized appropriately.
18. What was the main cause of the rise of the consumer movement? (2012)Answer: The consumer movement emerged due to widespread dissatisfaction among consumers regarding unfair trade practices, such as adulteration, black marketing, and the absence of standardized products, necessitating the need for consumer protection and rights
