Question

How can consumer awareness be spread among consumers to avoid exploitation in the marketplace. Explain three ways.

Answer 1

Hint: The development of consumer protection laws in India have led to various Central legislative enactments, the main among which is The Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Section 6 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, lists six main rights that consumers of goods and services have. These are—the right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property; the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of the goods or services; the right to be assured access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices; the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers; and the right to consumer education.

Complete Step by Step answer:
The right of each citizen to be educated on matters related to consumer protection is the last right given by the Consumer Protection Act (1986).
Three ways to do this would be—to ensure that consumers across India have access to informational programmes and materials that would help them make better decisions; to provide consumer education through school and college curriculums and by awareness campaigns run by governmental and non-governmental organisations; and to make consumers conscious of their rights and the legal remedies they can seek if their rights are infringed upon.

Note: Legislations regarding consumer protection other than the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 include—the Sale of Goods Act, 1930; the Agricultural Produce Act, 1937; the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; the Industries Regulation Act, 1951; the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954; the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976; and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which replaced the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.