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Consumer Rights – Class 10 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 10 Social Science, chapter 22. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Consumers are often exploited through under-weighing, adulteration, false information and poor after-sales service. The consumer movement in India led to the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA), first passed in 1986 and replaced by a new Act in 2019. Consumers have rights and duties, and three-level consumer commissions settle disputes.

Why consumers need protection

Exploitation takes many forms: less weight or measure, adulteration, high prices, duplicate goods, false information and unsafe products.
Large companies with huge wealth and power can manipulate the market and mislead consumers through advertisements.
The consumer movement in India grew from the 1960s out of dissatisfaction with shortages, hoarding, black marketing and adulteration.

Rights of consumers

Right to safety against goods and services that are hazardous to life and property.
Right to be informed about ingredients, price, batch number, date of manufacture and expiry, and the address of the manufacturer; the Right to Information Act (2005) gives citizens information about government departments.
Right to choose, right to seek redressal, right to represent in consumer courts, and right to consumer education.

Consumer protection in practice

Consumer disputes are settled by a three-level system: district commissions, state commissions and the national commission.
Standardisation marks such as ISI, Agmark and Hallmark help consumers be assured of quality.
24 December is observed in India as National Consumers' Day; India has many consumer groups that guide consumers and represent them.

Key terms

Consumer: a person who buys goods or services for personal use
COPRA: the Consumer Protection Act, first passed in 1986 and replaced by a new Act in 2019
Adulteration: mixing inferior or harmful substances in food or other products
Redressal: compensation or remedy for a wrong suffered by a consumer

Important questions with answers

Why are rules and regulations needed for the protection of consumers?2 marks

Individual consumers are weak compared with sellers and large companies, who may cheat through under-weighing, adulteration, false information and unfair prices. Rules and regulations are needed to stop such exploitation and to give consumers a way to get their complaints heard and their losses compensated.

Explain the right to information with an example.3 marks

Consumers have the right to be informed about the particulars of goods and services they buy, such as ingredients, price, batch number, date of manufacture and expiry, and the address of the manufacturer. For example, a medicine packet must show these details along with directions for proper use and side effects. If a product is sold above its printed maximum retail price, the consumer can protest and ask for a refund of the excess.

Describe the rights of consumers and the three-tier system of consumer redressal in India.5 marks

Consumers have six rights. The right to safety protects them against goods and services that are hazardous to life and property. The right to be informed lets them know about the ingredients, price, batch number, dates and manufacturer of products. The right to choose means a consumer can choose any product or service and cannot be forced to buy something with it. The right to seek redressal allows consumers to get compensation against unfair trade practices and exploitation. The right to represent lets consumers present their views before consumer courts, and the right to consumer education helps them know their rights and act wisely. Under the Consumer Protection Act, a three-tier quasi-judicial machinery settles disputes: the district commission handles cases of smaller value, the state commission handles cases of higher value and appeals against district orders, and the national commission deals with cases of the highest value and appeals against state orders. Consumers can file complaints themselves without hiring a lawyer.

Quick revision

COPRA 1986, replaced in 2019.
Six rights: safety, information, choice, redressal, representation, education.
District → state → national commissions.
ISI, Agmark and Hallmark are quality marks.

Exam tips

Learn the six consumer rights and one real-life example of each.
Remember the three levels of consumer commissions in order: district, state, national.

Practice MCQs

National Consumers' Day in India is observed on
1. 15 March
2. 26 November
3. 5 June
4. 24 December
Show answer
Answer: (d) 24 December. The Consumer Protection Act was enacted on this day in 1986.
The Hallmark certifies the quality of
1. food grains
2. medicines
3. electrical goods
4. jewellery
Show answer
Answer: (d) jewellery. It is used for gold and silver jewellery.
Mixing inferior substances in food is called
1. grading
2. adulteration
3. hoarding
4. packaging
Show answer
Answer: (b) adulteration. It harms consumers' health.
The Consumer Protection Act was first passed in
1. 1976
2. 1986
3. 2005
4. 2019
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1986. It was replaced by a new Act in 2019.
The Agmark is given to
1. electrical goods
2. jewellery
3. agricultural products
4. cars
Show answer
Answer: (c) agricultural products. It certifies the quality of farm products.
A consumer who receives a defective product can approach
1. the Election Commission
2. a consumer commission
3. the Reserve Bank
4. the Lok Sabha
Show answer
Answer: (b) a consumer commission. Consumer commissions settle disputes.
Which right allows a consumer to get compensation for unfair trade practices
1. right to choose
2. right to education
3. right to safety
4. right to seek redressal
Show answer
Answer: (d) right to seek redressal. Consumers can claim compensation depending on the loss.
Which of these is not one of the three levels of consumer dispute redressal
1. district commission
2. panchayat commission
3. national commission
4. state commission
Show answer
Answer: (b) panchayat commission. The system works at district, state and national levels.

All chapters of Class 10 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.