NCERT Solutions Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights

Long Answer Type Question

Question. "Exploitation of consumers happens in three major ways in the market place." Support those statement. 
OR
Explain various ways by which consumers are exploited by the producers or wholesalers. 
OR
Describe any three common ways in which consumers are exploited by manufacturers and traders. 
Answer : The main ways of exploitation of consumers are described below:
(i) Adulteration: Adulteration means mixing or substituting undesirable materials in food. This cause heavy loss to the customers; they suffer from monetary loss as well as spoil their health.
(ii) False Claim: Sellers make false claim about the durability and quality of their product through advertisements.
(iii) Under measurement: Sellers generally give under measured goods and charge for the actual quantity.
(iv) Hoarding and Black Marketing: Trader generally hold the stock if essential commodities to create artificial scarcity in the market so that they can sell their commodities at higher price.
(v) Substandard goods: Sellers usually sell inferior quality goods in order to make more profits.
(vi) High Price: Sellers who are dealing in necessities generally charge arbitrary prices.
(vii) Duplicate Articles: In the name of genuine parts or goods, duplicate items are sold to the consumers.
(viii) Lack of Safety Devices: Electronic appliances produced locally lack the required inbuilt safeguards which causes harm to the consumers.

Question. Explain three strategies adopted by the government to protect the interest of consumers with reference to consumer protection act of 1986. (Delhi 2005)
Answer : (i) Legislative measure includes enactment of the consumer protection act. The government also amended certain provisions in other Acts. It has enacted a specific law called the consumer protection Act in 1986.
(ii) Administrative measure includes distributing essential commodities through Public Distribution System (PDS). PDS ensures availability of essential commodities like wheat, rice, sugar, kerosene, etc. to the consumers through a network of outlets or Fair Price Shops (FPS). There is at present a network of 4.61 lakhs PDS outlets in the country.
(iii) Technical measure consists of standardization of products. Standardization of products refers to the process of setting certain standards for a product on the basis of its desired qualities like utility, safety, durability, weight, color, etc., in the product. The product with ISI mark are very popular because they carry the guarantee regarding the quality of the products. In India, Bureau of Indian standard (BIS) caters the industrial and consumer goods, while Agmark is meant for agricultural products.

Question. What is the rationale behind the enactment of consumer protection act of 1986?
Answer : With growth of the private sector need for enforcing discipline and regulation if the market has grown. The consumers have to be aware not only of the commercial aspects of sale and purchase of goods, but also of the health and security aspects. Promoting consumer awareness about the possible malpractices and providing the consumers is the effective way to protect the right of the consumers.
Standardization of products is an important measure taken by the government to protect the consumers from lack of quality and varying standards of goods. For this purpose following institution have been created for setting up the standards for making and producing various products and enforcing them.
The bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), whose headquarter located in New Delhi, has the responsibility of laying down the standards for industrial and consumer goods on a scientific basis and prescribed quality. In case of dissatisfaction with the quality of certified products, a consumer can complain to the regional office of the BIS.
Agmark is implemented under the agricultural produce (Grading and Marking) Act 1937 as amended in 1986. This scheme is run by the Directorate of Marketing and Intelligence (DMI) in the minister of agriculture, Government of India. Products such as honey, masala, and spices, carry such marks.

Question. Describe the six rights of consumers. 
OR
How does 'Right to Safety' help consumers? Explain with an example.
OR
Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.
Answer :  The following rights of consumer are provided by the law:
(i) The Right of Safety: Goods like electrical and pressure cookers can cause serious injury, if there is any manufacturing defect in them.
There is also a risk to life. Consumers have rights to be protected against any such danger.
(ii) Right to Choose: The manufacturer should not use any aggressive selling techniques to seek a particular product without giving consumer a chance to choose from alternative products available. Therefore, the consumer should always be given the right to choose.
(iii) Right to Informed: All information regarding the product, its ingredients, date of manufacture, precaution of use, etc., should be enumerated either on the package or separately on a piece of paper. Thus consumer has a right to be informed.
(iv) Right to Seek Redressal: When consumer are cheated or exploited, they have a right to get their claim settled against manufacturer. A number of consumer courts and agencies have been set up especially for this purpose.
(v) Right to be heard: The consumer has assured that complaints and grievance regarding products or services will be considered. Newspaper and consumer association encouraged dissatisfied consumer to write about products. Thus, the right to be heard should be available to every consumer.
(vi) Right or Consumer Education: A consumer can be protected against the fraud only when she/he knows that there is a law dealing with such malpractices. He/she should be aware of this rights and remedies available.

Question. Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.
Answer: Some of the rights of consumer are:
1. Right  to safety - It is included under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. It offers consumers’ protection against hazardous goods. The producers and sellers should  provide safety assurance in case of household goods  & appliances. Consumers should  use appliances with ISI mark and ensure  that they meet desired quality specifications.
2. Right  to represent - Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986  consumers have  the right to represent. It means  the right to be heard and to be assured  that consumers' interest will  receive due consideration. It implies the following:
•   Consumer can file  a case against exploitation in consumer courts at different levels.
•  No legal  formalities are required for filing a complaint.
•  No need for employing a lawyer.
3. Right  to be informed – Consumers have  the right to be informed about the particulars of goods  and services that they purchase. Consumers can complain and ask for compensation or replacement if the good  proves to be defective in any manner. In recent times, this right has been  expanded to cover various services provided by the government by the enactment of Right to Information Act, 2005. It gives  citizens of India the right to access to information about  the functioning of the government departments. It includes access to information such as public  policy  and procedures, departmental records, delivery of services, business  information, etc.
4. Right  to Choose – It deals with the issue of choosing between different alternatives of the product or service required. A consumer is free to choose  the product from a variety of products at competitive prices.
5. Right  to Seek Redressal – Consumers have  the right to seek redressal of their grievances relating to performance, grade, quality etc. of the goods  and services. Redressal forums are available at district, state and national level.
6. Right  to Consumer Education – It is the right of a consumer to receive knowledge and skill  to become  an informed consumer. She/he has the right to be well informed/educated about the product he/she wishes  to acquire and, the rights and reliefs available to him.

NCERT Questions

Question. Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.
Answer : The following rights of consumer are provided by the law:
(i) The Right of Safety: Goods like electrical and pressure cookers can cause serious injury, if there is any manufacturing defect in them.
There is also a risk to life. Consumers have rights to be protected against any such danger.
(ii) Right to Choose: The manufacturer should not use any aggressive selling techniques to seek a particular product without giving consumer a chance to choose from alternative products available. Therefore, the consumer should always be given the right to choose.
(iii) Right to Informed: All information regarding the product, its ingredients, date of manufacture, precaution of use, etc., should be enumerated either on the package or separately on a piece of paper. Thus consumer has a right to be informed.
(iv) Right to Seek Redressal: When consumer are cheated or exploited, they have a right to get their claim settled against manufacturer. A number of consumer courts and agencies have been set up especially for this purpose.
(v) Right to be heard: The consumer has assured that complaints and grievance regarding products or services will be considered. Newspaper and consumer association encouraged dissatisfied consumer to write about products. Thus, the right to be heard should be available to every consumer.
(vi) Right or Consumer Education: A consumer can be protected against the fraud only when she/he knows that there is a law dealing with such malpractices. He/she should be aware of this rights and remedies available.

Value Based Questions

Question. 'For some products like LPG cylinders, Good colors and additives, cement, packaged drinking water, it is mandatory on the part of the producers to get goods certified by the government organization.'
a. Why it mandatory to get the above is produced certified by the government?
b. What values have you learnt from the above passage?
Answer : (a) Because they affect the health and safety of the consumers.
(i) (e)
(ii) (c)
(iii) (a)
(iv) (b)
(v) (f)
(vi) (d)
(b) (i) Do not be a passive Customer. Check the seal and read what is written on the label of the bottle.
(ii) Fairness.
(iii) Concern for consumers and retrospection.