NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights

NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Important Concepts And Terms

Consumer: A person who sells or buys any goods or services in the markets.

Buyer: A person who buys goods from the market and consumes them.

Consumer Exploitation: Exploitation of consumers by producers and traders through unfair and deceptive trade practices.

Consumer Awareness: Educating the consumers about their rights and duties. Adulteration: Mixing of some inferior cheap products with other products.

NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Economics Flowchart

NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Exercises

Question 1. Why are rules and regulations required in the marketplace? Illustrate with a few examples.

Or

Why do we need rules and regulations to ensure the protection of consumers?

Answer:

Rules and regulations are required in the marketplace to protect consumers. Sellers often abdicate responsibility for a low-quality product, cheat in weighing out goods, add extra charges over the retail price, and sell adulterated/defective goods.

Hence, rules and regulations are needed to protect the scattered buyers from powerful and fewer producers who monopolize markets. For example, a grocery shop owner might sell expired products, and then blame the customer for not checking the date of expiry before buying the items.

Question 2. What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India? Trace its evolution.

Answer:

The factors that gave birth to the consumer movement in India are manifold. It started as a “social force” with the need to protect and promote consumer interests against unfair and unethical trade practices.

Extreme food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, and adulteration of food led to the consumer movement becoming an organized arena in the 1960s. Till the 1970s, consumer organizations were mostly busy writing articles and holding exhibitions.

More recently, there has been an upsurge in the number of consumer groups who have shown concern towards ration shop malpractices and overcrowding of public transport vehicles. In 1986, the Indian government enacted the Consumer Protection Act, also known as COPRA. This was a major step in the consumer movement in India.

Question 3. Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving two examples.

Answer:

Consumer consciousness is being aware of your right as a consumer while buying any goods or services.

Example:

1. It is common to see consumers bargaining with sellers for additional discounts below the MRP.
2. Because of conscious consumers, most of the sweet shops do not include the weight of the container when they weigh sweets.

Question 4. Mention a few factors that cause the exploitation of consumers.

Answer:

Factors that cause the Exploitation Of Consumers Are:

• Lack of awareness of consumer rights among buyers.
• Improper and inadequate monitoring of rules and regulations.
• The individual purchase quantity is quite small.
• Consumers are scattered over large areas.

Question 5. What is the rationale behind the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986?

Answer:

The rationale behind the enactment of COPRA 1986 was to set up a separate department of consumer affairs in Central and State governments. It has enabled us as consumers to have the right to represent in a consumer court.

Question 6. Describe some of your duties as a consumer if you visit a shopping complex in your locality.

Answer:

Some of my duties as a consumer, if I visit a shopping complex, include checking the expiry dates of the products I wish to purchase, paying only the maximum retail price printed on the goods, preventing shopkeepers from duping me with defective products, and registering a complaint with a consumer forum or court in case a seller refuses to take responsibility for an adulterated or flawed product.

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?

Answer:

We should look for the Agmark symbol before buying food items because this mark is certified by the government and assures the quality of the product.

Question 8. What legal measures were taken by the government to empower the consumers in India?

Answer:

Legal measures taken by the government to empower consumers in India are plenty. First and foremost it was the COPRA in 1986.

Then, in October 2005, the Right to Information Act was passed, ensuring citizens all information about the functioning of government departments.

Also, under COPRA, a consumer can appeal in state and national courts, even if his case has been dismissed at the district level. Thus, consumers even have the right to represent themselves in consumer courts now.

Question 9. Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.

Answer:

Some Of The Rights Of Consumers Are As Follows:

Right To Choice: 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 that service. Under this right, a consumer may also choose any one of the various brands of a product (say, a refrigerator) available in the market.

Right To Redressal: Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair
trade practices and exploitation.

Right To Represent: The act has enabled us as consumers to have the right to represent in the consumer courts.

Question 10. By what means can the consumers express their solidarity?

Answer:

Consumers can express their solidarity by forming consumer groups that write articles or hold exhibitions against traders’ exploitation. These groups guide individuals on how to approach a consumer court, and they even fight cases for consumers.

Such groups receive financial aid from the government to create public awareness. Participation of one and all will further strengthen consumer solidarity.

Question 11. Critically examine the progress of the consumer movement in India.

Or

Describe the progress of the consumer movement in India.

Answer:

The consumer movement in India has evolved vastly since it began. There has been a significant change in consumer awareness in the country.

Till the enactment of “COPRA in 1986, the consumer movement did not bear much force, but ever” since its inception, the movement has been empowered substantially. The setting up of consumer courts and consumer groups has been a progressive move.

However, in contemporary India, the consumer redressal process is quite complicated, expensive, and time-consuming. Filing cases, attending court proceedings, hiring lawyers, and other procedures make it cumbersome.

In India, there are over 700 consumer groups of which, unfortunately, only about 20-26 are well-organized and functioning smoothly.

Question 12. Match the following:

Answer:

(1)-(E), (2)-(C), (3)-(A), (4)-(B), (5)-(F), (6)-(D)

Question 13. Say True or False.

1. COPRA applies only to goods.
Answer: False

2. India is one of the many countries in the world which has exclusive courts for consumer redressal.
Answer: True

3. When a consumer feels that he has been exploited, he must file a case in the District Consumer Court.
Answer: True

4. It is worthwhile to move to consumer courts only if the damages incurred are of high value.
Answer: True

5. Hallmark is the certification maintained for the standardization of jewelry.
Answer: True

6. The consumer redressal process is very simple and quick.
Answer: False

7. A consumer has the right to get compensation depending on the degree of the damage.
Answer: True

NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Questions And Answers

Question 1. What do you understand by consumer protection? 
Answer:

By consumer protection, we mean the protection of the consumers against the unfair and malpractices adopted by businessmen. These may be grouped mainly into two categories.

1. Government measures
2. Voluntary measures

Question 2. Why is COPRA enacted in India?

Answer:

Consumer Protection Act 1986 (COPRA) is enacted in India with the following motives:

1. To pressurize business firms.
2. To correct unfair business conduct.
3. To protect the interests of the consumers.

Read and Learn More Class 10 Social Science Solutions

Question 3. How do the logos ISI, Agmark, or Hallmark help consumers?

Answer:

These logos and certifications help consumers get assured of quality while purchasing goods and services.

The organizations that monitor and issue the certificates allow the producers to use these logos provided they follow certain quality standards.

Question 4. What is adulteration?

Answer:

When some foreign matter, injurious to health, is mixed with any goods or natural products, it is called adulteration. This is the most heinous crime against humanity.

Question 5. Mention a few organizations that provide certification of standardization in India. What do you mean by ISO?

Answer:

1. BIS and ISI
2. AGMARK
3. HALLMARK

It means International Organisation for Standardisation which has its headquarters at Geneva. It does the Standardisation work at the international level.

Question 6. What is the need for consumer awareness?
Answer:

The need for consumer awareness was felt because both the manufacturers and traders could go to any extent out of their selfishness.

They can charge high prices, and resort to underweight and under-measurement methods. Their lust for money may lead to loss of money and the health of consumers.

Question 7. What are the various kinds of protection required to promote development?

Answer:

1. Protection of workers in the unorganized sector,
2. Protection of people from high interest rates charged by moneylenders in the informal sector,
3. Protection of consumers from unfair trade practices, and the various other kinds of protection required to promote development.
4. Similarly, rules and regulations are also required to protect the environment.

Question 8. Why are rules and regulations required in the marketplace? Illustrate with a few examples.

Or

“Rules and regulations are required in the marketplace”. Explain with examples.

Answer:

1. Consumers are exploited in a number of ways in the market. Individual consumers often find it difficult to protect their interests. Therefore, rules and regulations are required to protect the interests of consumers.
2. Sometimes traders indulge in unfair trade practices such as underweight and under measurement, adulteration, hoarding, etc.
3. Whenever a complaint regarding goods or services is made, the seller tries to shift all the responsibility onto the buyer.
4. Certain rules and regulations are required for the markets to work in a fair manner when producers are few and powerful whereas consumers purchase in small amounts and are scattered.

Question 9. What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India? Trace its evolution.

Or

“Trace out the evolution of consumer movement in India.

Answer:

1. In India, 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.
2. Whenever a complaint regarding goods or services is made, the seller tries to shift all the responsibility onto the buyer.
3. Rampant (unchecked) food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, and adulteration of food items gave birth to the consumer movement in an organized form in the 1960s.
4. Till the 1970s, consumer organizations were largely engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed consumer groups to look into the malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in the road passenger transport only. More recently, India witnessed an upsurge in the number of consumer groups.

Question 10. Mention a few factors that cause the exploitation of consumers

Answer:

The Factors Causing The Exploitation Of The Consumers Are The Following

Question 11. Why are defective or low-quality goods available in the market?
Answer:

1. Since most of the consumers are illiterate and ignorant, traders find it easy to exploit them. With the greed of making enormous profits, they manufacture and sell such goods.
2. We do find bad quality products in the market because the supervision of the rules and regulations is weak, and the consumer movement is not strong enough. There are loopholes in the laws to protect them.

Question 12. What are the pieces of information that a consumer should gather before purchasing a product?

Answer:

1. The pieces of information are about ingredients used, price, batch number, date of manufacture, expiry date and the address of the manufacturer, aftersales service, etc.
2. When we buy medicines, on the packets, we find ‘directions for proper use’ and information relating to side effects and risks associated with the usage of that medicine. When we buy garments, we find information on ‘instructions for washing’.

Question 13. What are the various ways by which people may be exploited in the market?

Answer:

Some Of The Ways By Which People May Be Exploited In The Market Are As Follows:

1. The shopkeeper may underweight an item.
2. Things past their use-by date may be sold.
3. White goods with some manufacturing defects may be sold.
4. Automobiles with engine defects may be sold.

Question 14. Think of one example from your experience where you thought that there was some ‘cheating in the market.

Answer:

Sellers often cheat the consumer by consumer by selling lower quality goods, than that for which the price has been paid incorrect standards of weight or measurement is adopted in place of legally prescribed standards for the purpose of profit-making.

Example: yesterday when I bought a fish from the market. I always doubt that he underweights the fish. I have cross-checked at my home and found my doubt to be true. Whenever I have tried to argue with the fish-seller, he tends to become too aggressive.

Question 15. What do you think should be the role of government to protect consumers?

Answer:

The government should formulate rules and regulations so that producers will maintain a certain minimum level of quality. The government should enforce rules regarding weights and measures.

Any company that makes false claims about a product should be immediately brought to book. Cases relating to consumer complaints should be solved at a faster pace.

Question 16. What could have been the steps taken by consumer groups’?

Answer:

Consumer groups should increase public awareness about consumer rights. Consumer groups should see to it that every case regarding consumer complaints reaches its logical conclusion.

Question 17. There may be rules and regulations but they are often not followed. Why? Discuss.

Answer:

There are various reasons for rules and regulations not being followed. Public apathy is the biggest reason. We as consumer try to avoid confrontation over trivial issues and most of the cases go unreported.

Corruption is another reason, which allows the culprit to go scot-free. Unnecessary delay in the proceedings also works as a demotivator for many people.

Question 18. How does displaying the information about the product help consumers?

Answer:

1. It helps consumers to choose the best product after knowing the information given by different products. It helps the consumers to use the product effectively.
2. It complies with the right of the consumers to be informed and to seek remedy through courts.

Question 19. Why are rules made to display information by the manufacturers?

Answer:

Rules Are Made Because

1. It is the right of consumers to be informed.
2. Consumers can complain and ask for compensation or replacement if the product proves defective.
3. Similarly, consumers can protest and complain if someone sells goods at more than the MRP (Maximum Retail Price).

Question 20. Describe some of your duties as a consumer.

Answer:

1. We should choose a brand product that is reliable, worth buying, and is manufactured according to government specifications or which has an ISI or Agmark certification.
2. Check the product thoroughly and know information about ingredients used, price, batch number, date of manufacture, side effect or health hazard, expiry date and the address of the manufacturer, aftersales service, etc.
3. Insist on cash bill and warrantee card if available and retain it till the expiry date.

Question 21. What were the legal measures taken by the government to empower the consumers in India?

Or

Describe the steps taken by the government to empower the consumers.

Answer:

A major step taken in 1986 by the Indian government was the passing of the Consumer Protection Act 1986, popularly known as COPRA.

In October 2005, the Government of India enacted a law, popularly known as RTI (Right to Information) Act, which ensures its citizens, all the information about the functions of government departments.

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

The district-level court deals with cases involving claims up to ₹ 20 lakh, the state-level courts between ₹ 20 lakh and 1 crore, and the national-level court deals with cases involving claims exceeding ₹ 1 crore.

If a case is dismissed in district-level court, the consumer can also appeal in state and then in National level courts.

Question 22. When we buy commodities we find that the price charged is sometimes higher or lower than the Maximum Retail Price printed on the pack. Discuss the possible reasons. Should consumer groups do something about this?

Answer:

The shopkeeper is at liberty to sell a product at a price lower than the MRP mentioned on the packet of a product. He may do so to attract more customers and develop long-term relationships with them.

He may be charging a lower price than the MRP as he might be giving duplicate or inferior quality goods or outdated medicine, eatables, etc. But in case he charges a higher price than the MRP, a complaint can be lodged against him.

In such a situation, consumer groups can mobilize public opinion against him and can file a suit against him in the consumer court.

Question 23. Pick up a few packaged goods that you want to buy and examine the information given. In what ways are they useful? Is there some information that you think should be given on those packaged goods but is not? Discuss.

Answer:

When you buy any packaged goods you will find such details given on the package;

1. Date of manufacture,
2. Date of expiry, and
3. MRP. This will enable you to know:
   1. Whether the product is outdated or not, and
   2. The seller is not overcharging.

But sometimes, we find that the price demanded by the seller is quite higher than the MRP.

It would mean the seller is exploiting and cheating you. So, it is necessary that the following information is also provided.

1. Actual cost to the producer;
2. Taxes (if any), transportation charges;
3. Maximum dealers margin.

By providing the above information, the consumer will come to know about the fairness of the producer as well as the dealer.

Question 24. By what means can consumers express their solidarity?

Answer:

1. By observing 24 December as the National Consumers Day.
2. By forming Consumer Protection Councils.
3. By seeking remedy through Consumer Courts in the case of violation of consumer laws, and
4. By getting consumer education and knowing their rights and duties, consumers can express their solidarity.

Question 25. What is the difference between the Consumer Protection Council and Consumer Courts?

Answer:

Consumer Protection Councils are formed by consumers of a city or. an area. It is a non-government voluntary organization. Consumer Courts are set up by the Government.

Consumer courts can fine or punish the sellers or manufacturers who follow unfair trade practices whereas the Consumer Protection Council can develop consumer awareness among the people and help consumers to lodge complaints against the sellers or manufacturers who follow unfair trade practices. In many cases, they represent individual consumers in the courts.

Question 26. Explain with examples how the Government of India protects the interest of the consumers by standardization of products.

Answer:

1. BIS: Standardisation of product is a technical measure. It is achieved through.
   • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), earlier known as the Indian Standard Institute (ISI) for industrial and consumer goods.
   • An ISI or BIS-certified product is manufactured according to the specifications given by the Government. Consumers can trust these products.
2. AGMARK: It is given for the standardization of agricultural products. Agmark is implemented under the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marketing) Act, 1937, amended in 1986.

It is implemented by the DMI- Directorate of Marketing and Intelligence, in the Ministry of Agriculture. Good products with high quality only will be given this standardization.

Question 27. What is a three-tier quasi-judicial machinery set up for the redressal of consumer disputes?

Or

Describe the three-tier quasi-judicial system set up for the redressal of consumer disputes.

Answer:

A three-tier system of courts is set up in India at different levels.

1. The District Level Courts or District Forums deal with cases involving claims up to 20 lakh.
2. The State Level Courts are known as the State Consumer Commission. They deal with cases for claims between rupees twenty lakh and one crore.
3. The National Consumer Commission is at the national level. It deals with cases for claims exceeding one crore. If a case is dismissed in the District Forum, it can be appealed in the State Level Courts and later at the National Level Courts.

Question 28. Analyze the meaning of the right to choose provided under the Consumer Protection Act.

Answer:

Right To Choose: It is the assurance of the availability of goods and services with quality at competitive prices.

1. Consumers can choose any product of any brand that gives them the maximum satisfaction.
2. It is the right of the consumers to choose a product, which is durable, economical, and worth buying.
3. Consumers can choose a product that assures quality and provides aftersales services at a fair price.
4. No seller can force a consumer to buy a product that the consumer doesn’t like.

There are situations like the gas connection which will be provided only if the consumers purchase gas stoves from the dealer. It goes against the right to choose.

Question 29. What is the importance of logos and certification? How does it help consumers?

Answer:

1. Logos and certification help consumers to be assured of quality while purchasing goods and services.
2. The organizations that monitor and issue these certifications allow producers to produce according to government specifications and to use their logos for their products.
3. It is not compulsory that all producers follow standards in their production. However, for some products that affect the health and safety of consumers or of products of mass consumption like LPG cylinders, cement, food colors, etc., it is mandatory on the part of the producers to get certified by their organizations.

NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Value-Based Questions

Question 1. Imagine yourself to be an entrepreneur of a branded product. List any three values that you will abide by while marketing your product.

Answer:

As an entrepreneur of a branded product, I shall abide by the following values while marketing my product:

1. Social responsibility
2. Ethical behaviour
3. Abiding by the laws
4. Honesty/integrity
5. Personal responsibility
6. Self-discipline

Question 2. While shopping if you insist on a bill for the purchase made, which four values would you display as a consumer?

Answer:

As a consumer, while insisting on a bill for the purchase made by me, I shall display the following values:

1. Awareness of one’s rights
2. Sharing responsibilities
3. Responsibility as a consumer
4. Ensuring social justice

NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1. When we do not get proper information about the quality of goods, their expiry date, or the address of the producer, we file a complaint against the shopkeeper. Which of the following rights do we avail of?

1. Right to safety
2. Right to choose
3. Right to be informed
4. None of these.

Answer: 3. Right to be informed

Question 2. When is National Consumer’s Day?

1. 24th December
2. 15th March
3. 21st January
4. None of these.

Answer: 1. 24th December

Question 3. Industrial goods with pure quality should hear the mark of

1. Hallmark
2. Agmark
3. BIS or ISI
4. Any of these

Answer: 3. BIS or ISI

Question 4. Cases with disputes of more than ₹ 1 crore should be filed in the courts at

1. National level
2. State level
3. District level
4. Anywhere.

Answer: 1. National level

Question 5. For dispute cases up ₹ 20 lakh should he fill in which of the following courts?

1. At District level
2. At State level
3. At National level
4. Any of these

Answer: 1. At District level

Question 6. Under COPRA 986, a case against consumer exploitation can be filed in which of the following courts?

1. At District Level
2. At State Level
3. At National level
4. All the above

Answer: 4. All the above

Question 7. Which of the following rights was given in COPRA 1986?

1. Right to be informed
2. Right to safety
3. Right to seek Redressal
4. All the above

Answer: 4. All the above

Question 8. When was the Consumer Protection Act enacted by the Indian Parliament?

1. 1991
2. 1985
3. 1986
4. None of these.

Answer: 3. 1986

Question 9. When did Consumers International originate in the United Nations?

1. 1985
2. 1973
3. 1986
4. 1991

Answer: 1. 1985

Question 10. Consumer protection is needed against the purchases of

1. Goods
2. Services
3. Both (1) and (2)
4. None.

Answer: 3. Both (1) and (2)

NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Skill-Based Questions

Question 1. For the following (you can add to the list) products and services discuss what safety rules should be observed by the producer.

1. LPG cylinder

Answer: Rules regarding safety

2. Cinema theatre

Answer: Rules regarding fire safety

3. Circus

Answer: Rules regarding fire safety and ethical treatment of animals

4. Medicines

Answer: Rules regarding expiry date, information of ingredients, and side effects

5. Edible oil

Answer: Rules regarding food safety

6. Marriage pandal

Answer: Rules regarding fire safety

7. A high-rise building

Answer: Rules regarding fire safety and provisions for evacuation in case of emergency

Question 2. Find out any case of accident or negligence from people around you, where you think that the responsibility lies with the producer. Discuss.

Answer:

Recently, one of my neighbors purchased a car. The steering system of the car was defective. The driver was lucky to survive a minor accident with small injuries.

Within a few days of that accident, the car company announced a recall of aboutm50,000 cars to rectify the problem.

Question 3. The following are some of the catchy advertisements of products that we purchase from the market. Which of the following offers would really benefit consumers? Discuss.

1. 15 gm more in every 500 gm pack.
2. Subscribe to a newspaper with a gift at the end of the year.
3. Scratch and win gifts worth ₹ 10 lakh.
4. A milk chocolate inside a 500-gram glucose box.
5. Win a gold coin inside a pack.
6. Buy shoes worth ₹ 2000 and get one pair of shoes worth ₹ 500 free.

Answer:

Free items that can be claimed are always beneficial for the consumers. But the promise of some prize; like a gold coin or ₹ 10 lakh; is just eyewash. It has never been heard that someone has won ₹ 10 lakh after buying some item.

Question 4. Arrange the following in the correct order:

1. Arita files a case in the District Consumer Court.
2. She engages a professional person.
3. She realizes that the dealer has given her defective material.
4. She starts attending the court proceedings.
5. She goes and complains to the dealer and the Branch office, to no effect.
6. She is asked to produce the bill and warranty before the court.
7. She purchases a wall clock from a retail outlet.
8. Within a few months, the dealer was ordered by the court to replace her old wall clock with a brand-new one at no extra cost.

Answer:

7. She purchases a wall clock from a retail outlet.

3. She realizes that the dealer has given her defective material.

5. She goes and complains to the dealer and the Branch office, to no effect.

2. She engages a professional person.

1. Arita files a case in the District Consumer Court.

6. She is asked to produce the bill and warranty before the court.

2. She starts attending the court proceedings.

7. Within a few months, the dealer was ordered by the court to replace her old wall clock with a brand-new one at no extra cost.

Question 5. The Consumer Protection Act 1986 ensures the following as rights which every consumer in India should possess:

1. Right to choice.
2. Right to information.
3. Right to redressal.
4. Right to representation.
5. Right to safety.
6. Right to consumer education.

Categorize the following cases under different heads and mark each in brackets.

1. Lata got an electric shock from a newly purchased iron. She complained to the shopkeeper immediately.
2. John has been dissatisfied with the services provided by MTNL/BSNL/TATAINDICOM for the past few months. He files a case in the District Level Consumer Forum.
3. Your friend has been sold a medicine that has crossed the expiry date and you are advising her to lodge a complaint
4. Iqbal makes it a point to scan through all the particulars given on the pack of item that he buys.
5. You are not satisfied with the services of the cable operator catering to your locality but you are unable to switch over to anybody else.
6. You realize that you have received a defective camera from a dealer. You are complaining to the head office persistently.

Answer:

1. Right to safety.
2. Right to redressal
3. Right-to-consumer education
4. Right to information,
5. Right to choice
6. Right to representation