Consumer Protection in India – Need for Structured Reforms

Abstract

The lifestyle changes and the dynamics of consumer need made the manufacturers produce extraordinary products, resulting in complexity. The emergence of complex items or products in the market gave the consumers less information or even no information about the product. Technological innovations have also created a space for people to expect more from the buyer’s side. Consumer protection is one of the primary function in a welfare state. India enacted the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as CPA, 1986) and established a separate mechanism for resolution of consumer disputes. Even after three decades of the Act, the Act is yet to be implemented fully. People lack consumer education and the number of people approaching the forums established is very low.

This paper tries to explore the current level of consumer protection in India while analysing the effectiveness of redressing system established under the CPA, 1986.