National Consumer Day is observed in India on December 24 annually to spread awareness among consumers about their rights and responsibilities. It is also meant to protect consumers from unfair trade practices.
- The Constitution passed the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. This Act was subsequently replaced by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the scope was expanded to include more consumer-frie.
- The Act guarantees six fundamental rights to consumers. Every consumer should know what these rights are:
1. Right To Be Informed -This right allows consumers to stay informed about the quantity, quality, purity, potency, price and standard of goods. It is the duty of consumers to ensure they read the fine print about a product or service so that they can make the right choice.
2. Right To Safety This right protects consumers from being misled about goods and services that could be hazardous to life or property.
3. Right To Choose This right offers consumers access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices. It also includes right to basic goods and services. In case of monopolies, it means the right to be assured of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price.
4. Right To Be Heard This right ensures consumers can approach appropriate forums with their problems.
5. Right To Seek Redressal This right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices ensures that consumers are not exploited.
6. Right To Consumer Education This implies the consumer's right to acquire the information and skill to stay informed. Consumers are vulnerable to exploitation in the absence of information. Consumers need to be aware of their rights and exercise them.