Very Short Answer Question s (VSA) 1 Mark

Question 1.
Which cases does the district level court deal with?
Answer:
The district level court deals with cases involving claims up to ₹ 20 lakhs.

Question 2.
A shopkeeper insists that you buy a guide with your NCERT Textbook. Which right of the consumer is being violated here?
Answer:
Right to choose.

Question 3.
In which court a consumer should file a case if he/she is exploited in the market?
Answer:
Consumer Court

Question 4.
What was the main cause of the rise of the consumer movement?
Answer:
The consumer movement grew out of consumers’ dissatisfaction due to unfair trade practices of sellers.

Question 5.
Mention two ways in which consumer ignorance can cause their exploitation?
Answer:

1.    Consumers may not be careful in looking at the quality of the products or guarantee of the products and services. They do not bother about the warranty card.

2.    They may not bother to buy quality marked products (such as ISI, Agmark).

3.    They may not bother to take the cash memo without which they cannot make complaints or get redressal.

Question 6.
Hallmark is the certification maintained for standardization of which type of products?
Answer:
Jewellery

Question 7.
When is ‘National Consumers Day’ celebrated in India?
Answer:
National Consumers Day is celebrated every year on 24^th December.

Question 8.
Which certification is maintained for standardization of electrical goods?
Answer:
ISI

Question 9.
Which one of the following is the certification maintained for standardization of edible goods?
Answer:
ISI

Question 10.
Which logo would you like to see for purchasing electrical goods?
Answer:
ISI

Question 11.
Suppose your parents want to purchase Gold jewellery along with you; then which logo will you look for on the jewellery?
Answer:
Hallmark, is the logo to look for while purchasing Gold jewellery.

Question 12.
Why was the Consumer Protection Act enacted by the Indian Parliament?
Answer:
The Consumer Protection Act was enacted by the Indian parliament in 1986 to protect the consumers from unfair trade practices and retain interest of consumers.

Question 13.
Suppose you have to buy a packed bottle for drinking water in your journey. Which logo will you like to see to be sure about its quality?
Answer:
Indian Standard Instrument (ISI) issued by Ministry of Agriculture.

Question 14.
If any damage is done to a consumer by a trader, under which consumer right one can move to consumer court to get compensation?
Answer:
Right to seek redressal. The consumers can seek redressal against trade practices of exploitation and have the right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances.

Question 15.
Give any one example of consumer’s ‘right to choose.’
Answer:
A consumer has the ‘Right to choose’ from different brands and varieties and thus a seller cannot offer to sell only one brand to the consumer.

Question 16.
How is the maximum retail price printed on packets beneficial for you?
Answer:
Maximum retail price helps us to protest and complain against a seller/shopkeeper if we are charged more than the price printed on the packet.

Question 17.
Which is the apex body of the consumer courts in our country?
Answer:
The National Consumer Commission.

Question 18.
Which is the most important consumer court?
Answer:
The District forum.

Question 19.
In which year the Consumer Protection Act was enacted?
Answer:
In 1986.

Question 20.
By which name was the BIS earlier known as?
Answer:
BIS was earlier known as the Indian Standards Institution.

Question 21.
Where is the headquarter of the BIS?
Answer:
At New Delhi.

Question 22.
What is DMI?
Answer:
DMI stands for the Directorate of Marketing.

Question 23.
Where was the Codex Alimentarious Commission Intelligence created?
Answer:
In 1963.

Question 24.
For what does ISO stand?
Answer:
ISO standas for the International Organisation for Standardisation.

Question 25.
When was the ISO established?
Answer:
In 1947.

Question 26.
What are the four basic consumer rights?
Answer:

1. Choice,


2. Information,


3. Safety,


4. Right to be heard.

Question 27.
When were the four basic consumer rights recognised?
Answer:
In 1962.

Question 28.
When is the World Consumer Rights Day celebrated?
Answer:
On 15th of March every year.

Question 29.
Is it necessary to take professional help from a lawyer to file a complaint in the consumer court?
Answer:
No.

Question 30.
How many district courts are there In our country?
Answer:
About 500.

Question 31.
In which country did the first consumer movement begin?
Answer:
In England.

Question 32.
Who is called as the father of consumer movement?
Answer:
Ralph Nadar.

Question 33.
Describe any four rights of the consumers.
Answer:

1. Right to be informed,


2. Rights to choose,


3. Right to seek redressal,


4. Right to represent.

Question 34.
For what the abbreviations APL and BPL stand?
Answer:
APL: Above Poverty Line.
BPL Below Poverty Line.

Question 35.
Where is International Organisation for standardization located
Answer:
Geneva.

Question 36.
On which day does India observe the National Consumer Day?
Answer:
24th December.

Question 37.
Write down the advantages of public distribution system.
Answer:
The public distribution system is very helpful preventing hoarding, black-marketing, overcharging. In addition to all these it also ensures food security to the poor.

Question 38.
What is meant by Agmark?
Or
Write down the functions of Agmark.
Answer:
Agmark is implemented under the Agricultural Product Act, 1937. This act was amended in 1986. Agmark is a scheme run by the Directorate of Marketing and Intelligence in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of India. Products like honey masala, etc. carry this AGMARK as the sign of purity.

Question 39.
What are the legal formalities for filing a complaint against a trader?
Answer:
There is no legal formalities for filing a complaint against a trader or a manufacturer in a consumer court. All one has to do is to write his or her complaint on a plain paper and attach the supporting documents like guarantee or warrantee card and cash memo and one can file this very simple complaint in a consumer court. Also there is no need to take any professional help from a lawyer as one can plead the case by oneself.

Question 40.
What do you know about the ISO.
Answer:
The ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization. It is located in Geneva. It serves to provide a common reference standard at the international level. It is a non-governmental organisation. It was established in 1947. ISO’s work results in international agreements.

These are published as international standards. ISO 9000, ISO 6000, ISO 14000 and the like, indicate specific levels of standards for a particular industry or group of products or institutions.

Question 41.
What do you know about Codex Alimentarius Commission?
Or
Write down the functions of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Answer:
The Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963. It is an international body for setting international food standards. This commission was actually created by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO). This commission is located in Rome, Italy.

The works of Codex Alimentarius Commission:

1.    It develops food standards.

2.    Prepares guidelines and codes of practices for production.

3.    Prepares guidelines and codes also for the international trade in food products.

Question 42.
Mention the organizations that provide certification of standardization in India.
Answer:
To protect the consumers from lack of quality and varying standards of goods; the Government has set mainly two institutions

1. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
2. AGMARK, BIS caters to the industrial and consumer goods. On the other hand, Agmark is meant for the agricultural products.

Question 43.
Name the consumer courts at the district, state and national levels.
Answer:
Levels Consumers Courts

1. District District court
2. State State Consumer Commission
3. National consumer commission.

Question 44.
Present a brief sketch on the history of the consumer movement.
Answer:
Consumer protection is not a new concept for India as references to the protection of consumer’s interests have also been presented in Kautilya’s Arthashastra Kautilya in his Arthashastra has given a detailed sketch of how consumers interests should be protected against the exploitation by trade and industry, underweight and measurement, adulteration. Punishment for these offences were also made in Kautilya’s Arthashastra.

However in recent era, the modern organised and systematic movement to safeguard the interest of consumers has developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s when the Indian Economy opened up its door for liberalisation and globalisation. At the world level, first consumer movement began in England after the II World War.

However, the modern declaration about the consumer’s rights was first:

Rights of safety: The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 protects the consumers against the marketing of goods and services hazardous to their life and property.

Rights of information: This Act provides the consumer every right of information. It includes quality, quantity potency purity standard and also the price of the goods.

Right to choose: This Act of 1986 provides assurance of access to variety Of goods and services at competitive price. By this act the consumer is assured of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price.

Right to be heard: This Act clearly states that the consumer’s interests should receive due consideration at appropriate forums relating to consumer welfare.

Right to seek redressal: The Act of 1986 provides the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices and the exploitation of consumers and rights to fair settlement of grievances. Act also includes the rights to knowledge about goods and issues relating to consumers welfare.

Question 45.
Mention and discuss numerous measures with regard to the protection of consumers interest.
Answer:
The following are measures with regard to the protection of consumers interests.

1.    The legislative measures include enactment of the Consumer Protection Act.

2.    The administrative measures include PDS which distributes essential commodities to the people directly.

3.    On the other hand technical measures consist of the standardization of the products.

To protect the rights of the consumers the Government of India has enacted the Consumer Protection Act in 1986. This Act provides for the establishment of Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies at district, state and also at national levels. This Act has led to setting up of separate Department of Consumer Affairs in central/ and state governments, which focus exclusively on the rights of the consumers as enshrined in the Act.

Also there are no legal formalities for filing the complaint. One can write the complaint on a plain paper and attaching supporting documents like guarantee or warantee card and cash memo with the complaint can submit it in the district consumer court. Consumer courts have settled nearly 77% of the cases.

Moreover, Indian Government has taken the following steps to protect the rights of a consumer

Apart from ensuring food security to the poor as a part of certain administrative measures, the Indian Government has also started public distribution system to prevent hoarding, black marketing and overcharging by traders.

The other important measure taken by the Government to protect the rights of a consumer is standardisation of products. It protects the consumers from lack of quality:

The Government of India has established the Bureau of Indian Standards to make sure about the quality of a product.

While BIS caters to the industrial and consumer goods, the Agmark is meant for the agricultural products.

Agmark is implemented under the Agricultural Produce Act, 1937. This Act was again amended in 1986.

For setting international food standards, there is a similar body called Codex Alimentarious Commission. This commission was created in 1963 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO).

Question 46.
What are various ways in which a consumer is exploited?
Answer:
A consumer is exploited by the traders in various ways, some very common ways of this exploitation are the following
Underweight and under measurements: It is a very common practice by the traders not to weigh and measure the things properly and correctly.

Substandard quality: Many of the times goods sold are substandard quality. For example, selling of expired medicines and supply of deficiency or defective home appliances have generally become the regular grievances of consumers.

High Price: Very often the traders charge a price higher than the prescribed retail price

Duplicate articles: Many times in the name of genuine parts and goods, fake and duplicate items are sold to the consumers.

Adulteration: In costly items like ghee, oil, spices etc. adulteration is very commonly practised to make higher profit in a undue manner. It makes the customers lose their money as well as their health.

Lack of safety devices: Many of the times electrical devices and various electronic goods are sold without proper safeguard.

Unsatisfactory after-sale services: Many of the times suppliers do not provide the satisfactory after-sale services despite proper payments. It creates unnecessary tension to the customers.

Short Answer Questions (SA) 3 Marks

Question 47.
What is standardization of products? Mention any two organizations responsible for the standardization of products in India.
Answer:
Standardization of a product or service is done by government agencies to ensure consistency in quality of products or services. It helps consumers get assured of quality while purchasing the goods and services. The organizations that monitor and issue these certificates allow producers to use their logos, i.e., ISI, Agmark or Hallmark provided they follow certain quality standards.
The two organizations responsible for the standardization of products in India are:

1.    Bureau of Indian Standards issues ISI for industrial products and Hallmark for jewellery.

2.    Ministry of Agriculture issues Agmark for food items.

Question 48.
Why are rules and regulations required for the protection of consumers in the marketplace? Justify the statement with arguments.
Answer:
Rules and regulations are required in the market place for the following reasons:

1.    Individual consumers often find themselves in a weak position, whenever there is a complaint regarding a good or service that had been bought. The seller tries to shift all the responsibility on to the buyer as if the seller has no responsibility once a sale is completed.

2.    To check exploitation in the market place that happens in various ways. For example, unfair trade practices such as when shopkeepers weigh less than what they should or when traders add charges that were not mentioned before or when adulterated goods are sold.

3.    Markets do not work in a fair manner when producers are few and powerful whereas consumers purchase in small amounts and are scattered. Large companies sometimes manipulate the market in various ways.
For example, at times false information is passed on through media to attract consumers.

4.    False and incomplete information. Sellers easily mislead consumers by giving wrong information about a product, its price, quality, reliability, lifecycle, expiry date, durability, its effect on health, environment, safety and security, maintenance cost involved and terms and conditions of purchase. Cosmetics, drugs and electronic goods are common examples where consumers face such problems. For example, At times false information is passed on through media to attract consumers.
Hence there is a need for rules and regulations to ensure protection of the consumers.

Question 49.
‘Governments initiate schemes and programmes to alleviate the suffering of the poor and meet their basic needs.’
Answer:

1.    Identify the fundamental right which is related to the Statement.

2.    But poverty remains in the country. What could be the reason for such a situation?

Answer:

1.    Right to Equality

2.    The situation of poverty remains unchanged despite government’s initiatives because every citizen does not participate directly in competitive politics and the problems and need of the public, especially the poor are not duly represented. People may not have the desire, the need or the skill to take part in direct political activity other than voting. Sometimes people act together without forming any organization, which indirectly helps people to reach the government to listen to their demand or point of view.

Question 50.
Explain the ‘Right to seek redressal’ with an example.
Or
Explain with an example how you can use the right to seek redressal.
Answer:
Right to seek redressal:

1.    The consumers can seek redressal against trade practices of exploitation and have the right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances.

2.    He has a right to get compensation from a manufacturer/trader if he is harmed. The consumer can seek redressal through Consumer Courts functioning at district, state and national levels.
Example: Mahesh sent a money order to his village for his mother’s medical treatment. The money did not reach his mother at the time when she needed it and reached months later. Mahesh, thus filed a case in the district level consumer court to seek redressal.

Question 51.
How do ‘Consumer Protection Councils’ help consumers? Explain three ways.
Answer:
The consumer movement led to the formation of various organizations locally known as ‘Consumer forums’. These are voluntary organizations.

1.    They guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer courts.

2.    They represent consumers in the consumer courts.

3.    These voluntary organizations receive financial support from the government for creating awareness among the consumers.

Question 52.
How have markets been transformed in recent years? Explain with examples.
Answer:
The initial aspect of unequal situations in a market and poor enforcement of rules and regulations have now seen a transformation in the market in recent years.

1.    The transformation of markets in recent years has come because of legal institutions helping consumers in getting compensated and upholding their rights as consumers.

2.    The awareness of being a well-informed consumer which arose out of consumer movement has also shifted the responsibility of ensuring quality of goods and services on the sellers.

3.    The producers in the market need to strictly follow the required safety rules and regulations. The manufacturer in the market is now required to display information about the ingredients used, price, batch number, and date of manufacture, expiry date and the address of the manufacturer.

For example, pressure cookers have safety valves and manufacturers have to ensure its high quality. While buying medicines the ‘directions for use’ and information relating to side effects and risk associated with its usage are to be mentioned on the packets.

Question 53.
Describe the conditions in which markets do not work in a fair manner.
Answer:
Markets do not work in fair manner when:

·         producers are few and powerful;

·         consumers are numerous and purchase in small amounts and are scattered;

·         large companies producing these goods having huge wealth; power and reach manipulate the market in various ways; and

·         consumers are misinformed through the media and are unaware of their rights.

Question 54.
How did consumer movement originate as a ‘social force’ in India?
Or
“The consumer movement arose out of dissatisfaction of the consumers”. Justify the statement with arguments.
Answer:
The consumer movement as a ‘social force’ originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices of the producers and sellers.

1.    Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing and adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organized form in the 1960s.

2.    In the early phase, consumer organizations were mainly engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed groups to look into malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in road passenger transport.

3.    Because of all these efforts, the movement succeeded in putting pressure on business firms and the government to change their unfair ways.
As a result of all this, a major step was taken by the Indian Government in 1986. It enacted the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which popularly came to be known as COPRA.

Question 55.
Explain with suitable examples meaning of ‘Right to Information’ as provided under the Consumer Protection Act. CBSE Sample Question Paper
Answer:
Consumers have the right to know what kind of goods they are buying in order to save themselves from exploitation at the hands of shopkeepers and producers.

1.    This includes quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods and date of expiry (in the case of drugs).

2.    Detailed information about ingredients used, date of manufacture and the address of the manufacturer should be available to consumers, particularly in the case of drugs (regarding its use and side-effects, if any).

3.    In the case of a garment, washing instructions should be available. Electrical goods must have information regarding their use.

Without this information the consumers cannot complain and ask for compensation or replacement if the bought product proves to be defective in any manner.

In recent years, the right to information has been expanded to cover various services provided by the government by The RTI (Right to Information) Act 2005. This Act ensures citizens’ right to relevant information about the functioning of government departments.

Question 56.
Analyse with a suitable example the meaning of right to choose provided under the Consumer Protection Act. CBSE Sample Question Paper
Answer:
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 the service. The right to choose in the simplest sense is the consumer’s right:

1.    To buy any brand of a good (soap, cooking oil etc.) and not be forced to buy only what a monopolist produces.

2.    The right to choose is even more extensive than this, even after the consumer has bought a good and then finds out that it is not of the quality claimed for it, he/she has the right to return the good and choose another brand.

3.    In a modern economy the right to choose has been further extended into all kinds of services including education. If your child is admitted to a school and you find that the school is not giving your child the kind of education it had promised, you should have the right to withdraw your child and seek admission in another school without losing the money you had spent as admission fee, annual fee etc. all over again.

Question 57.
Analyse any three reasons for the beginning of the consumer movement in India. (2017 D)
Answer:
The consumer movement as a ‘social force’ originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices of the producers and sellers.

1.    Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing and adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organized form in the 1960s.

2.    In the early phase, consumer organizations were mainly engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed groups to look into malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in road passenger transport.

3.    Because of all these efforts, the movement succeeded in putting pressure on business firms and the government to change their unfair ways.
As a result of all this, a major step was taken by the Indian Government in 1986. It enacted the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which popularly came to be known as COPRA.

Question 58.
Analyse the importance of the three-tier judicial machinery under Consumer Protection Act (COPRA), 1986 for redressal of consumer disputes.
Answer:
In the year 1986 the government of India took a major step in the interest of consumers, which resulted in the enactment of Consumer Protection Act popularly known as COPRA. The enactment of COPRA has led to the setting up of separate departments of consumer affairs in central as well as state governments. The COPRA also spells out the rights and duties of a consumer, as well as the rules and regulations, which a producer should follow. It provides a separate three-tier quasi-judicial machinery at the national, state and district levels to deal with consumer grievances and disputes:

1.    Under the COPRA, three- tier quasi- judicial machinery at the district, state and national levels was set up for redressal of consumer disputes.

2.     

1.    The district level court deals with the cases involving claims upto ₹ 20 lakhs.

2.    The state level courts deals with cases between ₹ 20 lakhs and ₹ one crore.

3.    National level court deals with cases involving claims exceeding one crore.

3.    If the case is dismissed in the district level court the consumer can appeal to the state and then the national level courts.

Long Answer Questions (LA) 5 Marks

Question 59.
Consumers have the right to be informed about goods and services they purchase. Explain its three advantages.
Answer:
It is mandatory for the manufacturer to display certain details on the packing because consumers have the right to be informed about the particulars of goods and services they purchase. These details are about ingredients used, price, quantity, quality, potency, batch number, and date of manufacture, expiry date and the address of the manufacturer.
The advantages of this rule are:

1.    Consumers can use this information to complain and ask for compensation or replacement if the product proves to be defective in any manner. For example, if we buy a product and find it defective well within the expiry period, we can ask for a replacement. If the expiry period was not printed, the manufacturer would blame the shopkeeper and will not accept the responsibility.

2.    One can protest and complain if someone sells a good at more than the printed price on the packet. This is indicated by ‘MRP’ — maximum retail price. In fact if the MRP is missing from the packing, a consumer can bargain with the seller to sell at less than the MRP.

3.    In October 2005, the Government of India enacted a law known as RTI (Right to Information) Act, which ensures its citizens all the information about the functions of government departments. The RTI Act gives consumers the power to Question the government about the functions and various services provided by the government.

Question 60.
How do the large companies often manipulate the markets? Explain with an example.
Answer:
The big companies eliminate their competitors by lowering down the price of products thereby establishing their monopolies in the market giving less choice to people.

The large companies with huge wealth, power and reach often manipulate the market in various ways. Some common ways by which consumers are exploited in the market are:

1.    Goods sold in the market are sometimes not measured or weighed correctly.

2.    The goods sold are sometimes of sub-standard quality, For example, selling medicines beyond their date of expiry.

3.    In costly edible items such as oil, ghee etc. adulteration is common.

4.    At times false information is passed on through the media and other sources to attract consumers. For example, a company for years sold powder milk for babies all over the world as the most scientific product claiming it to be better than mother’s milk. It took years of struggle before the company was forced to accept that it had been making false claims.
Similarly, a long battle had to be fought with court cases to make cigarette manufacturing companies accept that their product could cause cancer.

Question 61.
Explain why a consumer should learn to be well informed.
Answer:
Consumers should learn to be well informed to avoid exploitation and unfair trade practices that happen in the market place in various ways. For example, sometimes shopkeepers weigh less than what they should or when traders add charges that were not mentioned before or when adulterated and defective goods are sold to ignorant consumers.

At times false information is passed on through the media to attract consumers. Consumers have the right to be informed about the particulars of goods and services that they purchase. Consumers can then complain and ask for compensation and replacement if the product proves to be defective in any manner. One can also protest and complain if someone sells a good at more than MRP or can bargain with the seller to sell at less than the MRP.

When we as consumers become conscious of our rights, while purchasing various goods and services, we will be able to discriminate and make informed choices. This calls for acquiring the knowledge and skill to become a well-informed consumer.

Question 62.
“There is a great need for acquiring the knowledge and skill to become a well-informed consumer.” Support this statement.
Answer:
There is a great need for acquiring the knowledge and skill to become a well-informed consumer because

1.    We, as consumers participate in the market.

2.    Consumer consciousness is very important for every buyer while purchasing various goods and services.

3.    We should know the rules and regulations protecting the consumers’ rights.

4.    When we buy a commodity, we should know the details like the ingredients, date of manufacturing, date of expiry, directions of usage and risk associated.

5.    This enables consumers to make the right choice.

Question 63.
What is ‘Consumer Protection Act’? Explain any three reasons responsible of enacting ‘Consumer Protection Act, 1986′ by the Government of India.
Answer:
Consumer Protection Act. The COPRA was enacted to protect and promote the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices.

The rationale behind COPRA (Consumer Protection Act) is to provide the consumers the means to redressal at three levels of quasi-judicial courts—District Forum, State Consumer Courts and National Commission.

This Act has enabled the consumers to have a right to represent themselves in the consumer courts.
The ‘Consumer Protection Act, 1986’ was enacted:

1.    to protect consumers in the market place and promote the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices like rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, over pricing, adulteration of food and edible oil.

2.    to stop big companies from manipulating the market by giving false information through media, thereby exploiting the consumers.

3.    to give rights to consumers to represent in the Consumer Court and seek redressal against unfair trade practices and exploitation.

Question 64.
How is the consumer redressal process becoming cumbersome, expensive and time-consuming? Explain.
Answer:
The consumer redressal process is becoming cumbersome, expensive and time-consuming.

1.    Many a time, consumers are required to hire lawyers. These cases require time for filing and attending court proceedings.

2.    In most purchases, cash memos are not issued, therefore it is difficult to gather evidence in case a consumer is cheated.

3.    The existing laws are also not very clear on the issue of compensation to consumers injured by defective goods.

4.    Enforcement of laws that protect workers in the unorganized sectors is weak.

5.    Also, consumer awareness is spreading slowly. Rules and regulations of working markets are not followed.

Question 65.
“Consumer awareness is essential to avoid exploitation in the market place.” Support the statement.
Answer:
Consumer awareness is essential to avoid exploitation in the market place. Markets do not work in a fair manner. Exploitation happens in various ways. Therefore, awareness is essential. Certain details are given on the packing of all commodities. When we buy medicines, details are marked on the packets. Rules have been made so that the manufacturer displays the information.
Consumers who are not aware may buy, For example,

1.    Medicines that have not been properly inspected and certified by the appropriate authority, or whose expiry date is already over.

2.    They may buy electronic/electrical goods which may have defects or these products may not adhere to safety norms. Consumers can complain and ask for compensation or replacement of the product, if it proves to be defective in any manner.

Question 66.
How does exploitation of consumers take place in the market? Explain with any five facts.
Or
How are consumers exploited in the market place? Explain.
Answer:
Some common ways by which consumers are exploited by manufacturers and traders are given below:

1.    Underweight and under-measurement. Goods sold in the market are sometimes not measured or weighed correctly.

2.    High prices. Very often the traders charge a price higher than the prescribed retail price.

3.    Sub-standard quality. The goods sold are sometimes of sub-standard quality, e.g. selling medicines beyond their date of expiry, selling deficient or defective home appliances.

4.    Duplicate articles. In the name of genuine parts or goods, fake or duplicate items are sold to the consumers.

5.    Adulteration and impurity. In costly edible items like oil, ghee and spices, adulteration is common in order to earn more profit. This causes heavy loss to the consumers. They suffer from monetary loss as well as damage to their health.

6.    Lack of safety devices. Fake or inferior electronic goods, electrical devices or other appliances, produced locally lack the required in-built safety measures. This may cause accidents.

7.    False and incomplete information. Sellers easily mislead consumers by giving wrong information about a product, its price, quality, reliability, life-cycle, expiry date, durability, its effect on health, environment, safety and security, maintenance cost involved and terms and conditions of purchase. Cosmetics, drugs and electronic goods are common examples where consumers face such problems.