NCERT Book Solutions for Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights – Free PDF Download
The last chapter of Economics deals with consumer rights. It discusses the issue of consumer rights within the context of how markets operate in India. There are many aspects of unequal situations in a market and poor enforcement of rules and regulations. This chapter provides a case of how some consumers were exploited in a real-life situation and how legal institutions helped consumers in getting compensated and in upholding their rights. So, to help students understand this chapter in a better way, we have provided the answers to the exercise question in NCERT Solutions Class 10 Economics Social Science Chapter 5: Consumer Rights. These answers will help students in their board exam preparation.
Download NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 – Consumer Rights
The solutions for Chapter 5 – Consumer Rights are given below. Students should also check NCERT Solutions for Class 10 for other subjects.
Exercises Page No 87
1. Why are rules and regulations required in the marketplace? Illustrate with a few examples.
Answer: Rules and regulations are required in the marketplace for the protection of the consumer. Buyers can be misled by the seller, and in case of any complaint against the shopkeeper, the blame is put on the buyer. The sellers tend to hold no responsibility for the goods once sold. Hence, to protect consumers from such incidents, rules and regulations are required in the marketplace. For example, if a person buys a product and checks the expiry date after paying for the product, the shopkeeper must restore the expired product. If no rules were maintained, then the shopkeeper might refuse to compensate for the product.
2. What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India? Trace its evolution.
Answer: The consumer movement arose out of the dissatisfaction of the consumers. The factors that gave birth to the consumer movement in India are as follows:
- There was no legal system available to consumers to protect them from exploitation in the marketplace.
- It was started because of the necessity of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices.
- Rampant food shortages.
- Black marketing.
- Adulteration of food and edible oil.
Till the mid-1970s, consumer organisations were busy writing articles and holding exhibitions to arouse consciousness among consumers. There has been an upsurge in the number of consumer groups since the 1980s. Currently, there are about 700 consumer organisations in India working in the field of consumer protection. Greater awareness among the consumers about their rights also led to a gradual transition from a predominantly sellers’ market to a buyers’ market.
These movements have also influenced the government to work for the protection of the consumer, and the Consumer Protection Act was passed in 1986 to safeguard the interest of the consumers.
3. Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving two examples.
Answer: The consumer must be conscious while buying or trading anything in the market so that they are not being cheated or exploited in the marketplace and charged wrongly for the goods.
For example, a person must always check the expiry and manufacturing date of the product before paying for it and must complain about the shopkeeper in the consumer forum if any expired product is found in the shop.
Another example that proves that consumer consciousness is that a consumer must always ask for a computerised bill for the goods they buy. This is because if a consumer has been provided with the wrong product, the consumer forum demands a bill that acts as proof that the product given by the shopkeeper is wrong.
4. Mention a few factors which cause the exploitation of consumers.
Answer: A few factors that cause the exploitation of consumers are as follows:
- The most important factor is the lack of awareness. People do not ask for proper bills while buying products, which ultimately results in the exploitation of the consumer if the product bought is defective.
- There is no proper monitoring of rules and regulations.
- Consumer ignores small losses and does not complain about them, which makes the seller more ignorant.
- Lack of consumer consciousness. A consumer must always check the MRP, expiry date and manufacturing date and then buy a product.
5. What is the rationale behind the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986?
Answer: The rationale behind the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986 was to set up a department solely responsible for handling the complaints raised by the consumer and a separate department for the Central and state governments. Its main aim was to address the problems of consumers who reach the consumer courts for exploitation in the marketplace.
6. Describe some of your duties as consumers if you visit a shopping complex in your locality.
Answer: Some of our duties as consumers are given below:
- Always ask for a proper bill.
- Check the MRP and do not pay more than the market price.
- Check the expiry and manufacture date before buying any good from the market.
- If you see any rule or regulation under the marketplace laws being exploited, immediately report the consumer courts.
- Do not leave a small amount of disparity unattended. This may make the shopkeeper liable to continue the disparity for the other consumers as well.
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: If you buy a bottle of honey or a packet of biscuits, look for the Agmark and the ISI mark before buying them. It is because these symbols specify that the products have been made by Government authorised companies.
8. What legal measures were taken by the government to empower consumers in India?
Answer: The legal measures taken by the government to empower consumers are as mentioned below.
- The Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) was passed by the Government for the security of consumers and to prevent them from exploitation at the market level.
- The Right to Information Act was passed in the year 2005 so that the people of the country could be made aware of the functioning of the Government.
- A consumer court was set up for people where cases against any disparity with the consumer were raised.
9. Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.
Answer: A few rights of the consumers include:
- Right to Information – The RTI Act was passed in 2005 with the aim of making every citizen of the country aware of the functioning of the Government.
- Right to Choose – 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. No customer can be denied the right to choose what they want to buy.
- Right to Seek Redressal – Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices and exploitation. If any damage is done to a consumer, they have the right to get compensation depending on the degree of damage.
- Right to Represent – This act gives the right of the consumer to present before the consumer court and present their case of disparity in the form of law.
10. By what means can the consumers express their solidarity?
Answer: Consumers can express their solidarity by organising themselves in small groups that can fight against exploitative trade policies. Such groups get financial aid from the government to fight the case against the shopkeeper.
11. Critically examine the progress of the consumer movement in India.
Answer: The consumer movement in India has progressed rapidly over the past few years. The consumer rights that have been passed by the Government of the country have managed the people to become more aware and fight for their rights in the consumer courts. The Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) passed by the government made it easier for people to complain about any wrong practice performed by the shopkeeper or seller of the product. The public has become more aware, and proper actions are taken against any ill practice in the marketplace.
12. Match the following.
| (i) Availing details of ingredients of a product | (a) Right to safety |
| (ii) Agmark | (b) Dealing with consumer cases |
| (iii) Accident due to faulty engine in a scooter | (c) Certification of edible oil and cereals |
| (iv) District Consumer Court | (d) Agency that develops standards for goods and services |
| (v) Consumers International | (e) Right to information |
| (vi) Bureau of Indian Standards | (f) Global-level institution of consumer welfare organisations |
Answer:
| (i) Availing details of ingredients of a product | (e) Right to information |
| (ii) Agmark | (c) Certification of edible oil and cereals |
| (iii) Accident due to faulty engine in a scooter | (a) Right to safety |
| (iv) District Consumer Court | (b) Dealing with consumer cases |
| (v) Consumers International | (f) Global-level institution of consumer welfare organisations |
| (vi) Bureau of Indian Standards | (d) The agency that develops standards for goods and services |
13. Say True or False.
(i) COPRA applies only to goods.
Answer: False
(ii) India is one of the many countries in the world which has exclusive courts for consumer redressal.
Answer: True
(iii) When a consumer feels that he has been exploited, he must file a case in the District Consumer Court.
Answer: True
(iv) It is worthwhile to move to consumer courts only if the damages incurred are of high value.
Answer: True
(v) Hallmark is the certification maintained for the standardisation of jewellery.
Answer: True
(vi) The consumer redressal process is very simple and quick.
Answer: False
(vii) A consumer has the right to get compensation depending on the degree of the damage.
Answer: True
Consumer Rights Summary
Chapter 5 of Class 10 Economics Consumer Rights discusses the Consumer Rights that the Government has provided to the citizens of the country and how can the citizens raise their voices against any ill practice in the marketplace. The chapter also provides some case studies where the consumer was exploited by the seller and how legal institutions helped consumers in upholding their rights.
The chapter discusses the requirement of rules and laws in the marketplace, and these rules have helped consumer fight for their rights. The development of the consumer movement in the country and the unethical practices of trading have also been mentioned. Different consumer rights include:
- Right to Information
- Right to Seek Redressal
- Right to Choose
- Right to Represent
- Right to Safety
- Right to Consumer Education
Consumer Rights have been given major importance in this chapter, and students will learn how the Government helped in the building of self-help groups and other organisations for the right of its citizens.
‘Understanding Economic Development’ is an important book for Class 10 SST Economics. Apart from this chapter, the full set of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science is given on the linked page.
Also, explore –Â
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 EconomicsÂ
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