This document discusses consumer rights in India. It defines a consumer as a person who purchases goods or services for personal use. It outlines 5 key rights of consumers: the right to safety, the right to information, the right to choose, the right to be heard, and the right to consumer education. The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 established consumer councils and protections in India to safeguard consumer interests against unjust business practices and protect consumers' basic rights.

1. Consumer Rights
Mariyah Mirza | X-J

2. Who is a “Consumer”?
A person who has indicated his or her willingness to
obtain goods and/or services from a supplier with the
intention of paying for them.
Someone who has purchased goods and/or services for
personal consumption.
It may be just a single person or a complete household.

3. What are “Rights”?
A right is something a person has which people think
should not be taken away.
It is a rule about what a person is allowed to do or have.
A right is different from a privilege, which is something
that must be earned.
Rights may be put into laws, so they have legal protection.

4. Why do We Need Consumer Rights?
 Consumer Protection is important as consumers' interests need to
be safeguarded.
 They need to be protected from the unjust and unethical practices
of the producers and traders.
 Consumers need to be able to obtain accurate, unbiased
information about the products and services they purchase. This
enables them to make the best choices based on their interests
and prevents them from being mistreated or misled by

5. Consumer Exploitations
Some Examples of Consumer Exploitations:-
• Charging higher prices for products than they truely cost.
• In case of edible material, giving less in weight than agreed by
deception.
• Selling defective products for full price.
• Adulterating information labels on products in order to fool the
consumer.

6. Consumer Rights
CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 1986
Consumer Protection Act, 1986, popularly
known as COPRA, is an Act of the
Parliament of India enacted in 1986 to
protect interests of consumers in India.
It makes provision for the establishment
of consumer councils and other
authorities.
It arms consumers with facilities to
ensure safe and secure trade. We’ll now
discuss some important Rights.

7. 1. Right to Safety
According to the Consumer Protection Act 1986, the consumer
right is referred to as ‘right to be protected against marketing
of goods and services which are hazardous to life and
property’.
When there is violation of the right then there occur medical
malpractice lawsuits in the country

8. 2. Right to Information
Defined as ‘the right to be informed about the quality, quantity,
potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services.
Indian consumers hardly have precise and complete information
for assessing the true value, safety, suitability, reliability of many
products.
 Usually the hidden costs can be found, lack of suitability, quality
problems and safety hazards only after the purchase of the
product.

9. 3. Right to Choose
The definition of Right to Choose as per the Consumer Protection
Act 1986 is ‘the right to be assured, wherever possible, to have
access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices’.
For regulating the market place, there is just one factor required
and that is competition.
Unfortunately, since (many) Indian consumers come from a
socialistic background, the tolerating of monopolistic market is
found in their blood.

10. 4. Right to be Heard
As stated in the Consumer Protection Act 1986, ‘the right to be
heard and to be assured that consumer’s interests will receive due
consideration at appropriate forums’ is the definition of the right
to be heard.
This right helps to empower the consumers of India for putting
forward their complaints and concerns fearlessly and raising their
voice against products or even companies and ensure that their
issues are taken into consideration as well as handled
expeditiously.

11. 5. Right to Consumer Education
The right of every Indian citizen to have education on matters regarding
consumer protection as well as about her/his right is regarded as the last
right provided by the Consumer Protection Act 1986.
The right makes sure that the consumers in the country have informational
programs and materials which are easily accessible and would enable them
to make purchasing decisions which are better than before.
Consumer education might refer to formal education through college and
school curriculums as well as consumer awareness campaigns being run
by non-governmental and governmental agencies both.

12. Conclusion
Consumer protection makes markets work for both businesses
and consumers.
Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade
practices and exploitation.
 Laws for consumer are really important because it helps the
consumer to protect their rights as a consumer.