NCERT Q & A / CONSUMER RIGHTS

N C E R T Q & A / CONSUMER RIGHTS

ECONOMICS(X)

CHAPTER 05

NCERT TEXTBOOK 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 1960s.

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.

(ii) Individual purchase quantity is quite small.

(iv) 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:

(i) The M R P of the product

(ii) Date of expiry of the product

(iii) Instructions for use

(iv) 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 :

  1     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.

  2   Right to redressal — Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade

       practices and exploitation.

  3   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.

Q.12. Match the following:

Ans. (i) (e) (ii) (c) (iii) (a) (iv) (b) (v) (f) (vi) (d).

Q.13. Say True or False.

Ans. (i) False (ii) True (iii) True (iv) False (v) True (vi) False (vii) True

Q.14. What do you mean by right to be informed? How it protects consumer interests?

Ans. Right to be informed about the quality, quantity, purity, potency, standard and price of goods So as to protect the consumers against unfair trade practices.

How it protects consumer’s interests: Consumer can get all information about the product or

Service before making a choice or a decision. This will enable him to act wisely and

Responsibly and also enable him to desist from falling prey to high pressure selling techniques.

Q.15. Explain how ‘right to seek redressal’ help consumers to protect them against unfair practices and exploitation.

Ans. Right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers Also includes right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances of the consumer. Consumer can Make complaint for their genuine grievances. Many a time their complaint may be of small Value but its impact on society as a whole may be very large. They can also take the help of a consumer organisation in seeking redressal of their grievances.

Q.16. How does logo with letters ISI, Agmark or Hallmark help consumers?

Ans. These logos help consumers to get assured of quality while purchasing the goods and services. These logos are the symbols of trust, confidence and goodwill of the product.

Q.17. What is the role of RTI Act in India? Explain.

Ans. In October 2005, the Government of India enacted a law, popularly known as RTI (Right to Information) Act, which ensures its citizens all the information about the functioning of Government departments. Right to information has been expanded to cover various services Provided by the government. For example, if we buy a product and find it defective well before the expiry period, we can ask for a replacement.

Q.18. What are Consumer Forums? What is their Importance?

Ans. Consumer Forums are the organisations formed to guide consumer rights. They are also called as Consumer Protection Councils.

Importance of these organisations are as follows :

(i) They guide a consumer in filing the cases at the consumer courts.

(ii) They can also represent individual consumer at the consumer courts, if required.

(iii) They create awareness among people regarding consumer rights. For this, they also receive Financial support from the government.

Q.19. Briefly explain the three-tier quasi-judicial machinery set up under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.

Ans. The government enacted a specific law called the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Most Important feature of the Act is the provision for setting up a three-tier system as follows :

(i) National Consumer Commission     (ii) State Consumer Commission

(iii) District Forum

These courts look into the grievances and complaints of the consumers against the traders and Manufacturers and provide the necessary relief and compensation to the consumers.

Q.20. Highlight any three problems which a consumer may face in the process of Redressal?

Ans. The problems which a consumer may face in the process of redressal are :

(a) It may be time-consuming.

(b) It may be expensive as a consumer has to engage the lawyers.

(c) If cash memos are not issued then it make the collection of evidences difficult.

Q.21. Describe any three features of Consumer Forum?

Ans. Features of Consumer Forum are as follows :

(i) They guide the consumers on filing the cases in consumer courts.

(ii) In many cases, they represent the individual consumer at the consumer courts.

(iii) They create awareness among the people.

Q.22. Highlight any three duties of the consumers.

Ans. Duties of the consumers are as follows :

(i) Consumer should purchase quality marked products such as ISI, Agmark etc. and take the

warranty card, if possible.

(ii) Consumer should ask for cash memo for items purchased.

(iii) Consumer should make complaints for the genuine grievances.

Q.23. Explain consumer’s right to seek redressal.

Ans. This is the right to get relief against unfair trade practices and unscrupulous exploitation. When

Consumers are cheated or exploited, they have a right to get claims settled against the

Manufacturer. A number of consumer courts and agencies have been set up for this purpose.