NCERT Solutions for Social Economics Class 10 Chapter 5
NCERT Solutions for Class 10
Social Science (Economics)
Chapter 5 – Consumer Writes
1. Why are rules and regulations required in the marketplace? Illustrate with a few examples.
Answer: Rules and regulations are required in the marketplace to safeguard the consumers from exploitation by sellers and unfair trade practices. Sellers sometimes abdicate responsibility for a poor-quality product. They charge more than the retail price, cheat in weighing items, and sell adulterated or defective goods. As a result, rules and regulations are needed to protect scattered buyers from powerful and fewer producers who monopolise markets. For example, a grocery shop owner might sell expired products and then blame the consumers for not verifying the expiry dates before purchasing the items.
2. What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India? Trace its evolution.
Answer: There are numerous factors that gave birth to the consumer movement in India. These are as follows: –
(i)It began as a “social force” to safeguard and promote consumer interestsagainst unfair and unethical trading practices.
(ii)In the 1960s, extreme food shortages, hoarding, adulteration of food and blackmarketing led to the consumer movement to organise.
(iii)Till the 1970s, consumer organisations were mostly busy publishing articlesand conducting exhibitions.
(iv) Recently, there has been an increase in the number of consumer groups who are concerned about ration shops abuses and overcrowding of public transportation vehicles.
(v) The Consumer Protection Act, commonly known as COPRA, was implemented by the Indian government in 1986. This was a major step towards the consumer movement in India, which provides easy and fast compensation to consumer grievances.
3. Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving two examples.
Answer: Many consumers pay whatever the seller requests without bothering to verify the MRP. While it is a good attitude to have faith in your local shopkeeper, but one should always check the MRP. Some people never look at the expiry date on a medicine’s package. This can be hazardous to the patient who is going to consume the medicine, even life-threatening. These instances show that consumer awareness is extremely important. Being aware of your rights as a consumer when purchasing goods or services is known as consumer consciousness.
Examples:
(i) Consumers often bargain with sellers for additional discounts below the MRP (Minimum Retail Price).
(ii) Most sweet retailers do not weigh sweets with the weight of the container because of conscious consumers.
4. Mention a few factors which cause exploitation of consumers.
Answer: Factors that cause exploitation of consumers are:
(i) Buyers are unaware of their rights as consumers.
(ii) Inadequate and ineffective monitoring of rules and regulations.
(iii) The quantity purchased per individual is comparatively insignificant.
(iv) Customers are dispersed throughout large areas.
5. What is the rationale behind the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986?
Answer: The rationale behind the enactment of COPRA (Consumer Protection Act) in 1986 was to create a separate department of consumer affairs in both the federal and state governments, and it has given us the ability to represent ourselves in a consumer court.
6. Describe some of your duties as consumers if you visit a shopping complex in your locality.
Answer: When I visit a shopping complex, some of my duties/responsibilities as a consumer includes: –
(i) Checking the expiration dates of the products I want to buy,
(ii) Paying only the maximum retail price (MRP) printed on the goods,
(iii) Attempting to prevent shopkeepers from bribing me with defective products, and
(iv) Filing a complaint with a consumer forum or court if a seller refuses to take responsibility for an adulterated or flawed product.
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: Before buying food items, we should look for the logo of the Agmark symbol, which is government-certified and guarantees the quality of the product.
8. What legal measures were taken by the government to empower the consumers in India?
Answer: In India, the government has taken numerous legal steps to empower consumers. These are as follows: –
(i) The first and foremost is the COPRA (Consumer Protection Act) in 1986. This was a major step towards the consumer movement in India, which provides easy and fast compensation to consumer grievances.
(ii) The Right to Information Act was passed in October 2005, giving citizens access to all the information about the functioning of government departments.
(iii) A consumer can also appeal in state and federal courts under COPRA, even if his case has been dismissed at the district level. As a result, consumers now have the right to represent themselves in consumer courts.
9. Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.
Answer: Consumer rights are as follows: –
(i) Right to choose: – Any consumer who receives a service in any capacity, regardless of age, gender, or service type, has the right to choose whether or not to continue receiving that service. A consumer has the right to choose any of the different brands of a product (such as a refrigerator) sold in the market.
(ii) Right to seek redressal: – Consumers have the right to seek redressal when they are subjected to monopolistic practices (unfair trade) or exploitation. It also includes the consumer’s right to genuine grievances.
(iii) Right to be heard: – This means that the interests of consumers will receive due consideration in suitable forums. It also involves the right to be represented in a variety of forums set up to look after the interests of consumers.
(iv) Right to represent: – As a result of this act, consumers have the ability to represent themselves in consumer courts.
(v) Right to safety: – This refers to the right to be protected from the marketing of goods and services that are dangerous to one’s health and property. Consumers should acquire quality marked products such as ISI, AGMARK, and others before making a purchase.
10. By what means can the consumers express their solidarity?
Answer: Consumers can express their solidarity for one another by joining consumer groups that write articles or organize exhibitions to protest against exploitation by traders. These organisations provide advice to individuals on how to approach a consumer court, and they even defend cases for consumers in court. The government provides financial assistance to such organisations to raise public awareness. Consumer solidarity will be strengthened even more if everyone participates.
11. Critically examine the progress of the consumer movement in India.
Answer: In India, there has been a substantial change in consumer awareness. Since its beginnings, the consumer movement in the country has progressed significantly. The consumer movement did not have much strength before the enactment of COPRA (Consumer Protection Act) in 1986, but it has been significantly empowered since then. The establishment of consumer courts and consumer organisations was a significant step. In contemporary India, however, the consumer redressal procedure is complicated, costly, and time-consuming. It is time-consuming to file cases, attend court hearings, hire lawyers, and complete other procedures. There are about 700 consumer organisations in India, but only about 20-25 of them are well-organized and run efficiently.
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 | (b) | Dealing with consumer cases |
| (iv) | District Consumer Court | (f) | Global level institution of consumer welfare organisations |
| (v) | Consumers International | (d) | Agency that develops standards for goods and services |
| (vi) | Bureau of Indian Standards | (f) | Global level institution of consumer welfare organisations |
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
