The Consumer Protection Act 1986 aims to protect consumers against unfair trade practices, defective goods and services, and exploitation. It establishes consumer protection councils at central and state levels to promote and safeguard consumer rights. The act provides a quasi-judicial system for speedy resolution of consumer disputes at district, state and national levels. Its objectives include better protection of consumer interests, empowering consumers, and ensuring their access to quality goods and services at fair prices.

1. CONSUMER PROTECTION
ACT, 1986

2. MEANING
•Consumer protection Act 1986 seeks
to protect and promote the interests
of consumers. The act provides
safeguards to consumers against
defective goods, deficient services,
unfair trade practices, and other
factors of their exploitation.

3. • THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
1986, DOEST NOT CREATE RIGHTS OR
LIABILITIES, BUT IT HAS EMERGED AS
NEW FORUM FOR THE SETTLEMENT
OF DISPUTES RELATING TO SALE OF
GOOD OR SERVICES. THIS ACT IS
REFERRED IN SHORT AS “COPRA”.

4. SIGNIFICANCE OF CONSUMER
PROTECTION ACT
•Protecting consumers against products and services
which are harmful to the health of consumers.
•Protecting consumers from the breach of contract
by sellers/manufacturers.
•Ensuring consumers with supply of goods at fair
quality.
•Safeguarding consumers against misleading and

5. •Ensuring that consumers are charged fair price
and uninterrupted supply of goods.
•Protecting the consumers against unfair trade
practices of unscrupulous trader.
•The provisions of the Act are compensatory in
nature and it cover all the sectors whether
private, public or cooperative.

6. • The Act envisages the establishment of the Consumer
Protection Councils at the central and state levels, whose
main objects will be to promote and protect the rights of
the consumers.
• The CPA extends to the whole of India except the State of
Jammu and Kashmir and applies to all the goods and
services unless otherwise notificed by the central
government.
• The provisions of this Act are in addition to and not in
derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time
being in force.

7. OBJECTIVES OF THE ACT
•Better protection of consumers:The act seeks to provide
for the better protection of the interest of consumers and
for that purpose, makes a provision for the establishment
of consumers councils and other authorities for
settlement of consumer disputes.
•Protection of rights of consumers:Empowering consumers
to seek redressal against exploitation, educating the
consumers of their rights and duties .

8. • Consumer protection councils:The objectives of the consumer
protection Act, 1986,are sought to be promoted and
protected by the consumer protection councils established at
the central and state levels.
• Quasi-judicial machinery for the speedy redressal Of
consumer disputes:The act also seeks to provide speedy and
simple redressal to consumer disputes. For this purpose, there
has been set up quasi-judicial machinery at the district, state
and central levels. This bodies supposed to give reliefs of a
specific nature, and also provide compensation to consumers
whenever appropriate.

9. •Let the buyer beware:It is a traditional concept
which is no longer acceptable in open and
competitive environment.
•Safeguard the rights of the consumers:Right to
be informed about the quality, quantity, purity,
standard about the good or services. Right to be
assured wherever possible, access to a variety of
goods and services at competitive prices.