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Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 Important Questions and Answers Consumer Rights and Protection
Kerala Syllabus Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 4 Consumer Rights and Protection Important Questions
Consumer Rights and Protection Class 10 Important Questions
Question 1.
Who is a consumer?
Answer:
A consumer is a buying or spending unit. In other words, the consumer buys and uses goods and services after paying the price.
Question 2.
The goal of economic activities is to ….
Answer:
Satisfy the consumer.
Question 3.
When was the Consumer Protection Act enacted?
Answer:
1986
Question 4.
Write the three-tier system of consumer courts.
Answer:
District Consumer Protection Council, State Consumer Protection Council, National Consumer Protection Council.
Question 5.
How can we ensure consumer education?
Answer:
Through Awareness programmes and inclusion in the curriculum.
Question 6.
Who gives verdict on consumer disputes where compensation claimed is above ₹20 lakhs but up to rupees one crore? (MODEL 2021, MARCH 2021)
a) State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
b) National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
c) District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum
d) Food Safety Department
Answer:
b) National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
Question 7.
Name one product-related issue consumers should understand to avoid being cheated.
Answer:
Price (or quality, warranty, or safety standards).
Question 8.
What is the most important initiative mentioned to address consumer rights violations?
Answer:
The Consumer Protection Movement.
Question 9.
What is the right of a consumer when purchasing goods and services?
Answer:
To receive a bill.
Question 10.
What are all the things a consumer expects while purchasing goods and services? (MODEL2020)
Answer:
- Quality
- Reliability
- After-sales services
- Goods at a fair price
Question 11.
What is the service of ISO?
Answer:
- The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is an International standard-setting body.
- It certifies and assures the quality and standard of goods and services in more than 160 countries, including India.
- ISO gives certification or approval to service institutions like hospitals, banks and telecommunication and also to many products.
Question 12.
In your opinion, what are the uses of consumer education? Explain with examples.
Answer:
Consumer education is about educating consumers about their rights, responsibilities, choices of products and services, differences in markets and consumer laws. Consumer education raises awareness and instils selfprotection values among consumers. This helps consumers to be protected from fraud and wrongful transactions.
Question 13.
Identify the methods to be adopted for consumer education.
Answer:
- Observation of consumer day.
- Organise awareness programmes
- Include consumer rights as part of the curriculum.
Question 14.
Briefly outline the three levels of consumer courts established in India.
Answer:
The three levels of consumer courts in India are the District Consumer Forums at the base level, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions at the intermediate level (hearing appeals and larger value cases), and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) at the apex (hearing appeals and cases of national importance).
Question 15.
List down the problems faced by consumers in a market.
Answer:
- Selling low-quality products
- Adulteration
- Charging excess price
- Manipulation in weights
- Delay in making services-available
- Selling goods that are hazardous to life and property
Question 16.
Discuss the importance of obtaining a bill with a GST number when purchasing goods and services, highlighting both consumer rights and social commitment.
Answer:
Obtaining a bill with a GST number is crucial for consumers as it serves as proof of purchase, enabling them to claim their consumer rights in case of defective goods or unsatisfactory services. It allows them to hold the seller accountable. Furthermore, by insisting on a GST-compliant bill, consumers contribute to the formal economy, ensuring that taxes are paid. This act of social commitment helps in national development and prevents tax evasion, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.
Question 17.
Mention the situations where complaints about consumer disputes can be filed.
Answer:
Complaints against consumer disputes can be filed when,
- When the purchased product is damaged or defective.
- Defective services received from government/non-government/private institutions.
- Appropriation of price over and above the amount legally fixed or marked on the outer casing.
- Violation of the prevention of adulteration law – Sale of products that are harmful to life and safety.
- Loss due to trading methods, which lead to unfair practices and limited consumer freedom.
- Giving misleading advertisements to increase sales.
Question 18.
List out the Acts for the protection of consumers apart from the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. (MODEL 2020)
Answer:
- The Food Safety Act, 2006 (enacted to ensure the quality of food products).
- Sale of Goods Act, 1930
- Agriculture Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937
- Essential Commodities Act, 1955
Question 19.
Describe the rights of the consumers as per the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. (MODEL 2022)
Answer:
- The right to be informed about the quality-related aspects of goods and services
- The right to have access to goods and services at fair prices.
- The right to be heard and to seek redressal at appropriate forums.
- The right to consumer education
Question 20.
In what ways does consumer education lead to consumer empowerment?
Answer:
- Helps to consume sensibly as per the wants.
- Helps to acquire information regarding products and services
- Enables the consumer to make the right choices
- Makes the consumer aware of his/her rights
- Makes them capable of intervening in consumer disputes.
Question 21.
Write a short note on consumer education.
Answer:
Consumer education is about educating consumers about their rights, responsibilities, choices of products and services, differences in markets and consumer laws. Consumer education raises awareness and instils self-protection values among consumers. This helps consumers to be protected from fraud and wrongful transactions. To protect consumer rights, to make consumers aware of their responsibilities, to ensure safety in trade, especially online trade, to identify ethics and regulations in the market, to create awareness about consumer protection laws, to ensure health safety, etc, are the main objectives of consumer education. Consumer education is being included as a separate topic in the curriculum, and through this, practical experiences are being presented to the children in the classroom. Online courses for consumer education are available today. Consumer clubs in schools also help in raising consumer awareness among students.
Question 22.
Discuss the significance of the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 in the context of consumer rights in India.
Answer:
The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 marked a significant milestone in the Indian consumer protection landscape. Recognising the need for legal recourse against unfair trade practices, this Act clearly defined consumer rights and established a separate judicial system specifically for addressing consumer disputes. It provided consumers with a dedicated avenue to seek redressal for grievances, thereby empowering them and laying the foundation for a more structured approach to consumer protection in the country.
Question 23.
Briefly explain the genesis and primary objectives of the Consumer Protection Movement in India.
Answer:
The Consumer Protection Movement in India originated with the formation of the Consumer Guidance Society of India in Mumbai in 1966. It emerged as a social movement dedicated to safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring their welfare. The primary objectives of this movement include: protecting consumer rights, preventing fraudulent practices, empowering consumers with knowledge, advocating for legislation to protect consumers, ensuring the credibility of advertisements, and securing consumer representation in political forums.
Question 24.
Explain the structure of the consumer dispute redressal mechanism in India and highlight the role of the advisory councils within this framework.
Answer:
The consumer dispute redressal mechanism in India operates on a three-tier system. At the base are the District Consumer Forums, established at the district level to handle complaints regarding goods and services of a specific value. Above them are the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, which hear appeals from the District Forums and also address complaints of higher value. The apex body is the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which hears appeals from the State Commissions and handles cases of national importance and significant value. This structure provides multiple avenues for consumers to seek justice.
Complementing this judicial structure are the three-tier advisory committees: the District Consumer Protection Council, the State Consumer Protection Council, and the National Consumer Protection Council. The primary role of these councils is to advise the respective governments (district, state, and central) on matters related to consumer rights. This includes suggesting policies, recommending measures for consumer protection, and ensuring that consumer interests are taken into account in governmental decision-making processes. While they don’t directly adjudicate disputes, they play a crucial role in shaping the broader consumer protection landscape
Question 25.
Elaborate on the concept of consumer education and discuss its primary objectives in empowering consumers.
Answer:
Consumer education is a comprehensive process aimed at equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed decisions in the marketplace. It encompasses understanding their rights as consumers, recognising their responsibilities, being aware of the diverse choices available in products and services, discerning the differences between various markets, and comprehending relevant consumer protection laws. The primary objectives of consumer education are multifaceted and crucial for empowering consumers. Firstly, it aims to protect consumer rights by making individuals aware of the safeguards available to them against unfair trade practices and exploitation. Secondly, it seeks to make consumers aware of their responsibilities, emphasising the need for diligent consumption, ethical behaviour, and understanding the implications of their choices.
Thirdly, it strives to ensure safety in trade, especially online trade, by educating consumers about potential risks and safe transaction practices in the digital marketplace. Furthermore, consumer education aims to identify ethics and regulations in the market, enabling consumers to recognise fair and unfair business conduct and understand the governing rules. It is also vital in creating awareness about consumer protection laws, empowering individuals to seek redressal when their rights are violated. Additionally, it focuses on ensuring health safety by educating consumers about product quality, standards, and potential health hazards. Finally, it aims to promote consumer justice by fostering a society where consumer grievances are addressed effectively and fairly. By achieving these objectives, consumer education plays a vital role in creating a more informed, empowered, and protected consumer base.
Question 26.
Describe the three-tier structure of consumer courts in India and briefly outline the role of the advisory councils under the Consumer Protection Act.
Answer:
- Consumer courts play a crucial role in intervening in consumer disputes and providing justice, including redressal.
- The three-tier advisory committees under the Consumer Protection Act are, the District Consumer Protection Council, the State Consumer Protection Council, and the National Consumer Protection Council
- If a consumer is cheated, he/she can file a complaint with the respective office or consumer courts.
- To make consumers aware and to ensure the quality of the products before purchasing and using them, some symbols are given on the labels of the products.
The history of consumer courts begins with the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act in India in 1986. With this, consumer courts were established, and tribunals were formed for the speedy resolution of complaints. Consumer courts are deployed at three levels.
STRUCTURE OF CONSUMER COURTS
- Consumed courts play a crucial role in intervening in consumer disputes and providing justice, including redressal.
- There are over 600 district forums and 35 state commissions across India.
- At the top of all this, there is an apex body called the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
The three-tier advisory committees under the Consumer Protection Act are:
a) District Consumer Protection Council
b) State Consumer Protection Council
c) National Consumer Protection Council
Question 27.
What do you mean by the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility?
Answer:
Marginal Utility from consuming each additional unit of a commodity declines as its consumption increases, while keeping consumption of other commodities constant.
Question 28.
What is utility, and how can it be measured?
Answer:
The want-satisfying power of a commodity/ good is known as utility. It can be measured by using the unit of utils.
Question 29.
How can you state Cardinal Utility Theory?
Answer:
Cardinal Utility Theory states that the satisfaction derived by the consumer through the consumption of goods and services can be quantified by using cardinal numbers.
Question 30.
List the limitations of Cardinal Utility Theory.
Answer:
Refer: Subtopic 1.1. (Assumptions and Limitations of Cardinal Utility Theory.)
Question 31.
Why are some consumers more likely to be duped when purchasing goods and services?
Answer:
Consumers who lack a clear understanding of product-related issues such as price, quality, warranty, and safety standards are more susceptible to being misled and exploited.
Question 32.
What are the dual benefits of a consumer collecting a bill with a GST number?
Answer:
By collecting a bill with a GST number, consumers not only protect their individual consumer rights (like proof of purchase and recourse in case of issues) but also contribute to a social commitment by supporting a transparent economic system and discouraging unethical practices.
Question 33.
What is identified as the “most important” initiative taken to address the long-standing issue of consumer rights violations in the country?
Answer:
The Consumer Protection Movement is the most important initiative taken to address the violation of consumer rights and the cheating of consumers.
Question 34.
What are the features of the Consumer Protection Act 1986?
Answer:
- To protect consumer rights, a law was passed by both Houses of Parliament in 1986.
- This law (The Consumer Protection Act of 1986) clearly defined consumer rights and established a separate judicial system in India for consumer protection.
- With the emergence of e-commerce platforms, a law to protect consumers in such areas has become imperative.
- It is against this backdrop that the Consumer Protection Act 2019 was enacted.
Question 35.
What are the three-tier advisory committees under the Consumer Protection Act?
Answer:
The District Consumer Protection Council, The State Consumer Protection Council and The National Consumer Protection Council.
Question 36.
What is the use of quality symbols on products? Give some examples.
Answer:
Some symbols are given on the labels of the products to make consumers aware and to ensure the quality of the products before purchasing and using them.
E.g., ISI Mark, FSSAI, etc.
Question 37.
How to file complaints if a consumer is cheated?
Answer:
If a consumer is cheated, he/she can file a complaint with the respective office or consumer courts. Persons with grievances can write a detailed complaint on a white paper and submit it directly to the consumer dispute redressal court, along with supporting documents as evidence. Insisting on bills at the time of purchase assumes significance in this context.
Question 38.
There are different laws to protect the rights of consumers on specific issues, apart from the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. List the different rights of the consumer ensured by these laws.
Answer:
- Consumers should be able to consume with ease and without becoming victims of exploitation, and for this, legal help is needed
- The Consumer Protection Act 1986 was passed by both Houses of Parliament in 1986.
- The Consumer Protection Act 2019, came into force on 20 July 2020, replacing the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.
The Consumer Protection Movement in India came into being with the formation of the Consumer Guidance Society of India in Mumbai in 1966. It is a social movement formed to protect the rights and ensure the welfare of consumers. This movement is led by various consumer organisations and individuals who work against firms or institutions that cheat consumers.
The objectives of the Consumer Protection Movement are:
- To protect consumer rights
- To prevent frauds
- To empower consumers
- To legislate
- To ensure the credibility of advertisements
- To ensure representation of consumers in political forums
Consumers should be able to consume with ease and without becoming victims to exploitation, and for this, legal help is needed. The Consumer Protection Act came into force in India on 24 December 1986, following the adoption of the 1985 United Nations Resolution containing guidelines on consumer protection. To commemorate the event, 24th December is being observed as National Consumer Day.
Question 39.
What are the major objectives of consumer education?
Answer:
- Consumer education is the process of equipping individuals with the knowledge, understanding, and skills necessary to make informed and effective decisions when purchasing and utilizing goods and services.
- Consumer education is being included as a separate topic in the curriculum, and through this, practical experiences are being presented to the children in the classroom.
- Consumer protection law plays a major role in ensuring ethical practices in the business sector where producers and consumers come into contact.
Consumer education is about educating consumers about their rights, responsibilities, choices of products and services, differences in markets and consumer laws. Consumer education raises awareness and instills self-protection values among consumers. This helps consumers to be protected from frauds and wrongful transactions. The main objectives of consumer education are:
- To protect consumer rights
- To make consumers aware of their responsibilities
- To ensure safety in trade, especially online trade
- To identify ethics and regulations in the market
- To create awareness about consumer protection laws
- To ensure health safety To promote consumer justice
Consumer education is being included as a separate topic in the curriculum, and through this, practical experiences are being presented to the children in the classroom. Online courses for consumer education are available today. Consumer clubs in schools also help in raising consumer awareness among students.
Consumers need to be aware of their rights and be able to complain and get solutions to the problems they face. We need to develop a mindset of consuming only the necessary goods. This will provide an opportunity for the people who do not have access to goods and services to get them. Sustainable consumption and development can be achieved in this way. Consumer protection law plays a major role in ensuring ethical practices in the business sector where producers and consumers come into contact. The intervention of a society that has civic consciousness and consumer education should be there in consumer protection.
Question 40.
What do you mean by Consumer education?
Answer:
Consumer education is about educating consumers about their rights, responsibilities, choices of products and services, differences in markets and consumer laws. Consumer education raises awareness and instils self protection values among consumers.
Question 41.
Why is consumer education being integrated into the school curriculum as a separate subject?
Answer:
Consumer education is being included as a separate topic to provide children with practical experiences and raise their awareness about consumer rights and responsibilities from a young age.
Question 42.
What additional elements are important for effective consumer protection, besides the law itself?
Answer:
Besides consumer protection law, the intervention of a society with civic consciousness and consumer education is also important for effective consumer protection.
Question 43.
What is the significance of developing a mindset of consuming only necessary goods?
Answer:
Developing a mindset of consuming only necessary goods can create an opportunity for people who lack access to goods and services to obtain them, contributing to sustainable consumption and development.