Class 10 Economics Ch 5 – Consumer Rights

NCERT CLASS 10 ECONOMICS • DETAILED SOLUTIONS • CHAPTER 5 • CONSUMER RIGHTS

Consumer Rights

Detailed Solutions from Textbook

↔ Swipe left/right on boxes to view full text

💡 Key Terms & Acts

COPRA 1986: Consumer Protection Act to protect consumers from exploitation.
RTI 2005: Right to Information Act empowering citizens to question government functions.
Agmark/ISI: Quality certification marks for agricultural and industrial products respectively.

Descriptive Questions

Question 1

Why are rules and regulations required in the marketplace? Illustrate with a few examples.

Rules and regulations are required for the protection of the consumer. Individual buyers can be misled by sellers (e.g., denying responsibility for defective goods).

Examples of Exploitation:

Weighing less than what the consumer pays for.
Selling adulterated or defective goods.
Adding extra charges that were not mentioned before.
Sellers refusing to exchange defective products (e.g., a shopkeeper denying to replace a dented tin box).

Question 2

What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India? Trace its evolution.

The consumer movement arose out of dissatisfaction of consumers due to unfair trade practices.

Factors giving birth to the movement:

No legal system available to protect consumers from exploitation.
Rampant food shortages and black marketing.
Adulteration of food and edible oil.

Evolution:
Till the 1970s, organizations wrote articles and held exhibitions. There was an upsurge in consumer groups in the 1980s. This pressure led to the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) in 1986.

Question 3

Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving two examples.

Consumer consciousness is being aware of one’s rights and being critical while buying. It is needed to avoid exploitation.

Examples:

Expiry Dates: A conscious consumer always checks the expiry and manufacturing date of a product (e.g., medicine) before buying.
Bills: A conscious consumer demands a bill. The bill acts as proof of purchase if the product turns out to be defective and needs to be exchanged or a case needs to be filed.

Question 4

Mention a few factors which cause exploitation of consumers.

Factors causing exploitation include:

Lack of Awareness: Consumers often don’t ask for proper bills or check MRP/expiry dates.
Weak Enforcement: Rules and regulations are not monitored properly.
Ignorance: Consumers often ignore small losses and do not complain.

Question 5

What is the rationale behind the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986?

The rationale was to set up a dedicated department to handle consumer complaints.

It aimed to provide a separate legal system (Consumer Courts) to address problems efficiently.
It empowers consumers to fight against exploitation in the marketplace.

Question 6

Describe some of your duties as consumers if you visit a shopping complex in your locality.

Duties of a Consumer:

Always ask for a proper bill.
Check the MRP and do not pay more than that.
Check the expiry and manufacture date.
If any rule is being violated, report it to the consumer courts immediately.
Do not leave small disparities unattended; hold the shopkeeper liable.

Question 7

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

Honey: Look for the Agmark symbol.
Biscuits: Look for the ISI mark.

Reason: These symbols specify that the products have been made by government-authorized companies and meet specific quality standards. It ensures safety and quality.

Question 8

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

Legal measures include:

COPRA 1986: The Consumer Protection Act was passed for the security of consumers.
RTI Act 2005: The Right to Information Act allows people to know about the functioning of the Government.
Consumer Courts: A three-tier quasi-judicial machinery (District, State, National level) was set up for redressal.

Question 9

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

Right to Safety: Consumers have the right to be protected against goods that are hazardous to life (e.g., defective pressure cookers).
Right to Information: Consumers have the right to be informed about the particulars of goods (ingredients, price, batch no).
Right to Choose: Any consumer who receives a service has the right to choose whether to continue it or not.
Right to Seek Redressal: Right to seek compensation against unfair trade practices.
Right to Represent: Right to represent their case in consumer courts.

Question 10

By what means can the consumers express their solidarity?

Consumers can express solidarity by forming Consumer Groups or organizations that fight against exploitative trade policies. These groups guide individuals on how to file cases and even represent them in consumer courts.

Question 11

Critically examine the progress of consumer movement in India.

Progress:
The movement has progressed rapidly. Millions of consumers are now aware of their rights. The enactment of COPRA 1986 was a major milestone.

Challenges:
However, the process of redressal is often cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming. Lawyers are needed, and court cases drag on. Awareness is still spreading slowly among the uneducated.

Objective Questions

Question 12

Match the following:

Statement	Correct Match
(i) Availing details of ingredients of a product	(e) Right to Information
(ii) Agmark	(c) Certification of edible oil and cereals
(iii) Accident due to faulty engine	(a) Right to Safety
(iv) District Consumer Court	(b) Dealing with consumer cases
(v) Consumers International	(f) Global level institution of consumer welfare organizations
(vi) Bureau of Indian Standards	(d) Agency that develop standards for goods and services

Question 13

Say True or False.

(i) COPRA applies only to goods. (False) [It applies to services too]

(ii) India is one of the many countries in the world which has exclusive courts for consumer redressal. (True)

(iii) When a consumer feels that he has been exploited, he must file a case in the District Consumer Court. (True)

(iv) It is worthwhile to move to consumer courts only if the damages incurred are of high value. (True) [Ideally, yes, due to cost/time, but legally any amount can be contested]

(v) Hallmark is the certification maintained for standardisation of jewelry. (True)

(vi) The consumer redressal process is very simple and quick. (False) [It is often slow and expensive]

(vii) A consumer has the right to get compensation depending on the degree of the damage. (True)