Quick Revision Notes

Economics: Class 10 Social Science

Chapter: Consumer Rights (उपभोक्ता अधिकार)

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### Concept 1: Who is a Consumer? (उपभोक्ता कौन है?)

• Consumer: A person who buys goods or services for personal use, not for resale or commercial purposes.
• विक्रेता और क्रेता (Buyer and Seller): Market exchanges happen because of producers/sellers and consumers.

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### Concept 2: The Need for Consumer Consciousness (उपभोक्ता जागरूकता की आवश्यकता)

Consumers often face exploitation in the marketplace due to lack of information and unorganized nature. Common forms of exploitation include:

1. Underweight and Under-measurement: Giving less than what is paid for.
2. Substandard Quality: Selling expired or low-quality goods.
3. High Prices: Charging more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
4. Adulteration: Mixing impurities in food or other items.
5. False Claims: Misleading advertisements regarding the quality or utility of a product.
6. Lack of After-Sales Service: Poor response to genuine complaints.

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### Concept 3: Consumer Movement in India (भारत में उपभोक्ता आंदोलन)

• Origin: The consumer movement in India as a social force originated out of the necessity of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unethical trade practices.
• Root Cause: Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, and adulteration of edible oil in the 1960s.
• COPRA, 1986: A major milestone in the history of consumer movement in India was the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act in 1986, popularly known as COPRA.

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### Concept 4: Consumer Rights under COPRA, 1986

Under COPRA, Indian consumers are granted six major rights:

1. Right to Safety (सुरक्षा का अधिकार): To be protected against products, production processes, and services which are hazardous to health or life.
2. Right to be Informed (सूचति किए जाने का अधिकार): To be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and price of goods or services so as to protect against unfair trade practices.
3. Right to Choose (चयन करने का अधिकार): To be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices.
4. Right to Seek Redressal (निवारण का अधिकार): To seek redressal against unfair trade practices or exploitation. This includes the right to fair settlement of genuine claims.
5. Right to Consumer Education (उपभोक्ता शिक्षा का अधिकार): The right to acquire the knowledge and skill to be an informed consumer all through life.
6. Right to be Heard (सुनवाई का अधिकार): To have consumer interests represented in appropriate forums.

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### Concept 5: Consumer Responsibilities (उपभोक्ता के कर्तव्य)

To enjoy rights, a consumer must also fulfill certain duties:

• Checking for certification marks like ISI, Agmark, or Hallmark.
• Asking for a Cash Memo / Invoice for all purchases.
• Being aware of goods and services available in the market.
• Filing complaints in case of consumer exploitation.

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### Concept 6: Consumer Protection Councils and Courts (उपभोक्ता अदालतें और त्रि-स्तरीय प्रणाली)

COPRA established a three-tier quasi-judicial machinery at the District, State, and National levels for redressal of consumer disputes:

1. District Forum (जिला मंच):
   • Deals with cases involving claims up to Rs. 20 Lakh.
2. State Commission (राज्य आयोग):
   • Deals with cases involving claims between Rs. 20 Lakh and Rs. 1 Crore.
3. National Commission (राष्ट्रीय आयोग):
   • Deals with cases involving claims exceeding Rs. 1 Crore.

(Note: If a case is dismissed in the District Level Court, the consumer can appeal in the State level court and subsequently in the National level court.)

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### Concept 7: Standardization Marks (मानकीकरण चिह्न)

Always look for standard quality certification marks while buying products:

• ISI: For industrial and electrical goods.
• AGMARK: For agricultural and food products.
• HALLMARK: For gold jewelry and ornaments.
• ISO: For overall quality management standards.

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### Key Terms to Remember (मुख्य शब्दावली)

• Consumer Exploitation (उपभोक्ता का शोषण): Unfair trade practices by sellers harming consumers.
• COPRA (कोप्रार): Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
• Right to Redressal (निवारण का अधिकार): Right to get compensation for exploitation.
• Cash Memo (कैश मेमो / रसीद): Proof of purchase required for filing a complaint.
• National Consumer Day (राष्ट्रीय उपभोक्ता दिवस): Celebrated on 24th December every year in India.