India celebrates National Consumer Rights Day on 24th December every year to spread awareness about consumer rights and responsibilities. This day commemorates the day when Consumer Protection Act received the assent of the President on 24th December 1986 and came into force. Since then, National Consumer Rights Day is celebrated each year to educate people about their rights as consumers.
National Consumer Rights Day, also known as Bhartiya Grahak Diwas, underscores the importance of understanding and asserting consumer rights to prevent exploitation. In the marketplace, where ethical conduct is expected, lack of awareness about our rights can leave us vulnerable to exploitation. Knowledge of these rights not only empowers us as consumers but also promotes an ethical exchange of goods and services. The government actively promotes consumer rights protection, involving citizens in awareness campaigns. Educating consumers about these rights is crucial for their effective implementation in everyday life. Let’s explore the history, significance, and noteworthy quotes associated with National Consumer Rights Day.
HISTORY OF CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY
In 1986, the Consumer Protection Act was passed and it received the assent of the President on December 24. Since then, National Consumer Rights Day has been celebrated on this day to commemorate the occasion. The Consumer Protection Act acts to protect consumers from defective goods, negligent services, and unfair trade practices. The six fundamental rights of the Consumer Protection Act are the Right to safety, Right to choose, Right to be informed, Right to be heard, Right to seek redressal, and Right to consumer education.
In 2019 some amendments were made in the act and it came into force on 20 July 2020. This act was passed protecting the rights of consumers and protecting them from market abuse or exploitation.
The Consumer Protection Act 2019 was passed to widen the scope of the Consumer Protection Act 1986. It also includes punishment against misleading advertisements, false product descriptions, or any kind of guarantee of products and services. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) will impose fines and penalties against the companies for such false and misleading advertisements.
SIGNIFICANCE OF CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY
The main objective of World Consumer Rights Day is to protect the rights of consumers and ensure that the consumer’ are not subjected to market abuse.
The day also provides the opportunity for every consumer against different kinds of exploitation. The Act has empowered consumers and also had an impact on how businesses deal with such complaints.
The rights recognised under the Act provided in the United Nations charter are Right to be Informed, Right to Safety, Right to be Heard, Right to Choose, Right to seek Redressal, and Right to Consumer Education.
