Consumer Rights Class 10 Notes

(1) When one pays money as the price of a commodity or services and uses it, he or she becomes a consumer. In this sense we all are consumers.

(2) Consumer buys goods and services because they have some utility and satisfy human wants directly.

(3) Markets do not work in a fair manner. Often producers are few and powerful whereas consumers purchase in small amounts and are scattered. Hence there is a need for rules and regulations to ensure protection for consumers.

(4) Consumer movement is basically a social force which originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interest of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices.

(5) Consumer movement can be more effective only with the consumers’ active involvement. It requires voluntary effort and struggle, involving the participation of one and all.

(6) UN guidelines are a tool for nations to adopt measures to protect consumers. In 1985 United Nations adopted some guidelines for consumer protection.

(7) Consumer Protection Act was introduced by the Indian Government in 1986. Popularly known as COPRA, it has led to the setting up of a separate department of consumer affairs in Central and State governments.

(8) The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, ensures the following rights which every consumer in India should possess :

Right to choice
Right to information
Right to redressal
Right to representation
Right to safety
Right to consumer education.
ISI and Agmark logos represent quality standard for many products. However, for some products that affect the health and safety of consumers such as LPG cylinders, food colours and additives, cement or packed drinking water, it is mandatory on the part of the producers to get certified by these organisations.

Consumer Rights Class 10 Notes – NCERT Book Questions

Q.1. Why are the rules and regulations required in the marketplace? Illustrate with an example.

Ans. To protect the consumer from unfair trade practices, rules and regulations are required. This can be explained with the help of an example. A shopkeeper weighs less than the actual quantity or sells adulterated or defective goods. There should be some check on such activities.

Q.2. What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India?

Ans. Unethical and unfair trade practices such as hoarding, black marketing etc, gave birth to the consumer movement in an organised manner in 1960.

Q.3. Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving examples.

Ans. Consumer consciousness is being aware of your right as a consumer while buying any goods or services. Example : (i) It is common to see consumers bargaining with sellers for additional discounts below the MRP. (ii) Because of conscious consumers, most of the sweet shops do not include the weight of the container when they weigh sweets.

Q.4. Mention a few factors which cause exploitation of consumers.

Ans. Factors which cause exploitation of consumers are :

(i) Lack of awareness of consumer rights among buyers.

(ii) Improper and inadequate monitoring of rules and regulations.

Individual purchase quantity is quite small.
Consumers are scattered over large areas.

Q.5. What was the rationale behind the enactment of Consumer Protection Act 1986?

Ans. The rationale behind the enactment of COPRA 1986 was to set up a separate department of consumer affairs in Central and State governments and it has enabled us as consumers to have the right to represent in a consumer court.

Q.6. Describe some of your duties as consumers when you buy any commodity from a shopping mall in your locality.

Ans. When a consumer buys any commodity, he/she should be aware of his or her rights and verify the following details given on the packing :

The MRP of the product
Date of expiry of the product
Instructions for use
Address of the manufacturer.

For example, when a consumer buys medicines, he must read directions for proper use. The consumer should negotiate for a price which is either below MRP or equal to the MRP. Date of expiry should be much after the date of purchase. If the product does not match the written specification, the consumer can lodge a complaint with authorities and ask for compensation.

Q.7. Suppose you buy a bottle of honey and a biscuit packet. Which logo or mark you will have to look for and why?

Ans. We should look for Agmark symbol before buying the food items because this mark is certified by the government and assures the quality of the product.

Q.8. What legal measures were taken by the government to empower the consumers in India?

Ans. Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices and exploitation. If any damage is done to a consumer, he has the right to get compensation depending upon the degree of damage. This is covered under COPRA. The government has also introduced RTI – Right to Information Act – to empower the consumer.

Q.9. Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.

Ans. Some of the rights of consumers are as follows :

Right to choice — Any consumer who receives a service in whatever capacity, regardless of age, gender and nature of service, has the right to choose whether to continue to receive that service. Under this right, a consumer may also choose any one of the various brands of a product (say, a refrigerator) available in the market.
Right to redressal — Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices and exploitation.
Right to represent — The act has enabled us as consumers to have the right to represent in the consumer courts.

Q.10. By what means can the consumers express their solidarity?

Ans. By way of Consumer Forums or Consumer Protection Councils, consumers can express their solidarity.

Q.11. Critically examine the progress of consumer movement in India.

Ans. Earlier there was no legal system available to consumers to protect them from exploitation in the marketplace. It was presumed that it was the responsibility of consumers to be careful while buying a commodity or service.

It took many years for organisations in India and around the world to create awareness among people.

In India, the consumer movement as a “social force” originated due to the necessity of protecting and promoting the interest of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices. Hoarding, black marketing etc. gave birth to consumer movement in an organised form in the 1960s. As a result of which, the government passed the Consumer Protection Act in 1986. Example – Any businessman resorting to unfair means shall be taken to task by the different courts set up at the district, state and national levels. As a result, the consumers could be compensated for the loss they incurred by buying defective goods or getting poor services.