UP Board Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights

UP Board Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights

UP Board Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Textbook Questions and Answers, Additional Important Questions.

UP Board Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights InText Questions and Answers

Let’s Work these out (Page 77)

Question 1.
What are the various ways by which people may be exploited in the market ?
Answer:
People may be exploited in the market in the following ways :
(i) Under weight : Many dishonest shopkeepers weigh less than what they should.
(ii) Additional charges: Some-times traders add charges that were not mentioned before.
(iii) Adulteration: At times adulterated or defective goods are sold in the market.
(iv) False and incomplete information : Generally, false information is passed on through media and other sources to attract consumers.
(v) Artificial scarcity: Traders create artificial scarcity of a particular good to increase the price and earn high profit.
(vi) Duplicate goods : Some dishonest producers produce duplicate goods of some renowned brands.
(vii) Rough behaviour : At times, sellers do not behave well especially with illiterate and ignorant customers.

Question 2.
Think of one example from your experience where you thought that there was some ‘cheating* in the market. Discuss in the classroom.
Answer:
Students, do it yourselves.

Question 3.
What do you think should be the role of government to protect consumers ?
Answer:
To protect the consumers, the government should play the following legislative, administrative and technical roles :
(1) Legislative : The government should implement the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 with great devotion. It should
remove the loopholes and strengthen this Act so that the consumer could be benefited from this Act in practice.
(2) Administrative: The government should distribute all essential commodities through Public Distribution System (PDS) / the government regulated ration shops among the poorer section of the society. These ration shops keep stock of foodgrains, sugar, kerosene oil, etc. These items are sold at a price lower than the market price.
(3) Technical: It consists of standardisation of products. That is, the government should set certain standards for a product on the basis of its desired qualities like safety, durability, utility, weight, colour, etc. Though in India, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) observes such things in the industrial and consumer goods while Agmark is meant for agricultural products. The working of these institutions should be improved.

Let’s Work these out (Page 78)

Question 1.
What could have been the steps taken by consumer groups?
Answer:
The following steps could have been taken by consumer groups:
(1) Writing articles on consumer’s rights and duties.
(2) Holding exhibitions for consumer awareness.
(3) To look into the malpractices in ration shops such as diverting the grains to open market to get better margin.
(4) To examine overcrowding in the road passenger transport.
(5) To give pressure on business firms and government to correct business conduct which may be unfair and against the interests of consumers at large.

Question 2.
There may be rules and regulations but they are often not followed. Why ? Discuss.
Answer:
The following are the main reasons responsible for the above situation :
(1) Corrupt government officials: The law implementing officials are very corrupt. They give space to escape dishonest traders and shopkeepers by taking bribe from them.
(2) Redtapism: The dishonest shopkeepers also break the rules and regulations resorting to red tapism. They find out relationship with the concerned government officials arid able to do malpractices.
(3) Ignorant consumer-: Illiteracy causes ignorance. Even the literate consumers do not bother about the price, quality, durability, composition, etc. of the product. So, it is easy for the shopkeepers to break the concerned rules and regulations.
(4) Limited supplies : If the supply of a good is less than its demand, the price rises. This encourages the tendency of hoarding among sellers by breaking the law.
(5) Limited competition: If the production of a good is in a few hands, they restrict the supply of that product and manipulate its price.

Let’s Work these out (Page 79)

Question 1.
For the following (you can add to the list) products/services discuss what safety rules should be observed by the producer ?
(a) LPG Cylinder
(b) Cinema Theatre
(c) Circus
(d) Medicines
(e) Edible Oil
(f) Marriage pandal
(g) A high-rise building.
Answer:
The following safety rules should be adopted in the case of following products :
(a) LPG Cylinder : There should be no leakage in the cylinder. The quality and proper weight of the cylinder should be ensured.
(b) Cinema Theatre : There should be proper exit, fire extinguisher, safe building, toilet, etc.
(c) Circus : The producer should observe rules regarding the use of fire extinguisher, safe cage for dangerous animals, trained personnel, etc.
(d) Medicines : Manufacturing date, expiry date, batch number and ingredients should be printed.
(e) Edible Oils: There should be no adulteration. Agmark should be given on the bottle.
(f) Marriage Pandal : Safe pandal, fire-extinguishers, proper exit should be ensured.
(g) A high-rise building : Consultation with efficient architect, safe building, fire-extinguishers, proper exit, well main-tained toilet and verandah should be ensured.

Question 2.
Find out any case of accident or negligence from people around you, where you think that the responsi¬bility lay with the producer. Discuss.
Answer:
Students, do it yourselves.

Let’s Work these out (Page 81)

Question 1.
When we buy commodities we find that the price charged is sometimes higher or lower than the Maximum Retail Price printed on the pack. Discuss the possible reasons. Should consumer groups do something about this ?
Answer:
(1) The possible reason of the price higher than the Maximum Retail Price of product may be: sellers charge arbitrary prices to earn high profits. On the other hand, price charged is lower than the Maximum Retail Price because of the bargaining of the consumers.

(2) Yes, consumer groups should make pressure on sellers to keep the price lower than the Maximum Retail Price.

Question 2.
Pick up a few packaged goods that you want to buy and examine the information given. In what ways are they useful ? Is there some information that you think should be given on those packaged goods but is not ? Discuss. ‘
Answer:
(1) The information given on the packaged goods is useful in the following ways :
(i) Ingredients used : If it is proved that the producers did not use all the ingredients which they have mentioned on the packets, consumers can complain and ask for compensation or replacement.
(ii) Price : Sellers cannot charge more than the Maximum Retail Price.
(iii) Batch number : It may be easily understood that the products of a particular batch number is defective.
(iv) Expiry date : If people sell products that have expired, severe action can be taken against them.
(v) Address of the manufacturer : If the products are found defective, people can reach to the manufacturers.

(2) Yes, I found on some packets that there was no information about the Maximum Retail’Price which should be given.

Question 3.
People make complaints about the lack of civic amenities such as bad roads or poor water and health facilities but no one listens. Now, the RTI Act gives you the power to question. Do you agree ? Discuss.
Answer:
Yes, I agree with the statement that the RTI Act gives citizens the power to question. The Act ensures its citizens all the information about the functions of government departments.

Let’s Work these out (Page 82)

Question 1.
The following are some of the catchy advertisements of products that we purchase from the market. Which of the following offers would really benefit consumers ? Discuss.
(i) 15 gm more in every 500 gm pack.
(ii) Subscribe for a newspaper with a gift at the end of a year.
(iii) Scratch and win gifts worth Rs 10 lakhs.
(iv) A milk chocolate inside a 500 gram glucose box.
(v) Win a gold coin inside a pack.
(vi) Buy shoes worth Rs 2000 and get one pair of shoes Worth Rs 500 free.
Answer:
(i) 15 gm more in every 500 gm pack, (vi) Buy shoes worth Rs 2000 and get one pair of shoes worth Rs 500 free.

Let’s Work these out (Page 84)

Question 1.
Arrange the following in the correct order :
(а) Arita files a case in the District Consumer Court.
(b) She engages a professional person.
(c) She realises that the dealer has given her defective material.
(d) She starts attending the court proceedings.
(e) She goes and complains to the dealer and the Branch office, to no effect.
(f) She is asked to produce the bill and warranty before the court.
(g) She purchases a wall clock from a retail outlet.
(h) Within a few months, the dealer was ordered by the court to replace her old wall clock with a brand new one at no extra cost.
Answer:
(i) – (g)
(ii) – (c)
(m) – (e)
(iv) – (b)
(v) – (a)
(vi) – (d)
(vii) – (f)
(viii) – (h).

Let’s Work these out (Page 86)

Question 1.
Look at the posters and cartoons in this chapter. Think of any particular commodity and the aspects that need to be looked at as a consumer. Design a poster for this ?
Answer:
Students, do it yourselves.

Question 2.
Find out the nearest consumer court for your area.
Answer:
Students, do it yourselves.

Question 3.
What is the difference between consumer protection council and consumer court ?
Answer:
(1) Consumer Protection Council: The consumer movement in India has led to the formation of various voluntary consumer organisations which are locally known as consumer forums or consumer protection councils.

(2) Consumer Court : The Consumer Protection Act 1986 has the provision for setting up a three-tier judicial system which is popularly known as consumer courts at district, state and national levels.

Question 4.
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 ensures the following as rights which every consumer in India should possess.
(i) Right to choice
(ii) Right to information
(iii) Right to redressal
(iv) Right to representation
(v) Right to safety
(vi) Right to consumer education.
Categorise the following cases under different heads and mark against each in brackets.

(а) Lata got an electric shock from a newly purchased iron. She complained to the shopkeeper immediately. ()
(b) John is dissatisfied with the services provided by ()
MTNL / BSNL for the past few months. He files a case in the District Level Consumer Forum. ()
(c) Your friend has been sold a medicine that has crossed the expiry date and you are advising her to lodge a complaint. ()
(d) Iqbal makes it a point to scan through all the particulars given on the pack of any item that he buys. ( )
(e) You are not satisfied with the services of the cable operator catering to your locality but you are unable to switch over to anybody else. ( )
(f) You realise that you have received a defective camera from a dealer. You are complaining to the head office persistently. ()
Answer:
(a) Right to safety
(b) Right to redressal
(c) Right to information
(d) Right to consumer education
(e) Right to choice
(f) Right to representation

Question 5.
If the standardisation ensures the quality of a commodity, why are many goods available in the market without ISI or Agmark certification ?
Answer:
There are many goods available in the market without ISI or Agmark certification. This is because, it is not compulsory for all the producers to follow standards and get certified by the institutions like ISI or Agmark.

Question 6.
Find out the details of who provides Hallmark and ISO certification.
Answer:
(1) Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) provides Hallmark certification. Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery is operated
through BIS network of Regional and Branch Offices all over the country.
(2) International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certifies the standards of products at the international level. It was established in 1947 and is located in Geneva. BIS has been an active member of ISO. So, it takes active part in the development of International Standards with a view to protect the interests of Indian trade and industry.

UP Board Class 10 Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Textbook Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Why are rules and regulations required in the marketplace ? Illustrate with a few examples.
Or
Why are rules and regulations required for the protection of consumers interest in the market place ? Explain two reasons.
[Annual Paper {Delhi), 2010, Set 1, 2, 3]
Answer:
(1) Rules and regulations are required in the marketplace because individual consumers often find themselves in a weak position. Whenever there is a complaint regarding a good or service, the seller tries to shift all the responsibility on to the buyer.
(2) Following are a few examples :
(i) Many dishonest shopkeepers weigh less than what they should. I purchased 2 kg. honey which was underweight. When I complained it to the seller. He said, “If you didn’t like, why you bought. Please go elsewhere.”
(ii) Sometimes traders add charges that were not mentioned before.
(iii) Some unscrupulous traders play with the health of the nation by indulging in adulteration of edible oils, milk, ghee, honey, etc. As we know, in 1999, adulteration in mustard oil claimed many lives in Delhi.

Question 2.
What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India ? Trace its evolution.
Answer:
(1) The following factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India :
(i) uncontrolled food shortages;
(ii) hoarding;
(iii) black marketing;
(iv) adulteration of food and edible oil.

(2) These factors brought consumer movement in an organised form in the 1960s. But till the 1970s, consumer organisations were largely engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed consumer groups to look into the malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in the road passenger transport.

Question 3.
Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving two examples.
Answer:
The need for consumer consciousness may be clear by the following examples :
(1) Tata Teleservices sent a flawed phone bill of Rs 400 to Mrs. Jayashree Pillai, a Delhi University teacher. She complained it to the consumer forum. Consequently, she has been awarded a compensation of Rs 45,000 over this disputed bill of Rs 400.
(2) Mr. Manoj Gupta complained of poor construction of a society flat in Rohini. But his complaints were ignored by the society. A consumer court has upheld his complaint of deficiency in service and directed the society to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation.

Question 4.
Mention a few factors which cause exploitation of consumers.
Answer:
The following are the major factors that cause exploitation of the consumers :
(1) Limited information : Providing full and correct information about the product to consumers is of great importance. In the absence of information regarding the price, quality, composition, conditions of use, terms of purchase etc., consumers are likely to make a wrong choice and lose money.

(2) Limited supplies : When the supply of goods is less than their demand, this situation encourages the tendency of hoarding. As a result, the prices rise and consumers are exploited.

(3) Limited competition : When there is only one producer or a few producers of a product, they are in a position
to control or restrict the availability of the product, there is a possibility of manipulation in prices and supply.

(4) Low literacy : Illiteracy causes ignorance of products and the market. This leads to exploitation of consumers.

Question 5.
What is the rationale behind the enactment of Consumer Protection Act 1986 ?
Answer:
(1) The rationale behind the enactment of Consumer Protection Act 1986 is to provide better protection of the interests of consumers.
(2) The consumer movement succeeded in bringing pressure on business firms to correct business conduct which may be unfair and against the interests of consumers at large.

Question 6.
Discribe some of your duties as consumers if you visit a shopping complex in your locality.
Answer:
The following are our duties as consumers :
(1) We should look at the price, quality of the products as well as the at guarantee of the products and services. We should purchase quality marked products such as ISI, Agmark, Hallmark, etc.
(2) We should ask for cash memo for the goods purchased.
(3) We must make complaint for our genuine grievances.
(4) We should take the help of consumer organisations in seeking redressal of their grievances.
(5) We must know our rights and exercise them.

Question 7.
Suppose you buy a bottle of honey and a biscuit packet. Which logo or mark you will have to look foi* and why?
Answer:
(1) If I purchase a bottle of honey and a biscuit packet, I shall have to look for Agmark on the bottle of honey and ISI mark on the biscuit packet.
(2) This is because honey is a agricultural produce, while biscuit is a consumer good.

Question 8.
What legal measures were taken by the government to empower the consumers in India ?
Answer:
Several legal measures have been taken by the government in this context. They include enactment of the
Consumer Protection Act 1986. The government also amended certain provisions in other Acts. The measures were :
(1) Consumer Protection Act applies to all goods and sendees except for some specific goods.
(2) It covers all the economic sectors.
(3) The provisions of the Act are compensatory as well as preventive and punitive.
(4) It ensures all the given rights of consumers.
(5) To promote and protect the rights of consumers, consumer protection councils at the district, state and central levels wereestablished.
(6) A three-tier quasi-judicial machinery at the district, state and national levels was set up for simple, speedy and inexpensive redressal of consumer disputes.

Question 9.
Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences of each.
Answer:
The following are the rights of consumers under the Indian laws which the business community has to keep in mind :
(1) Right to Safety : Consumers have the right to be protected against the marketing of goods and delivery of services that are hazardous to life and property.
(2) Right to be Informed : Consumers have the right to be informed about the aspects of goods and services that they purchase. This aspect includes : quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods.
(3) Right to Choose : It ensures the consumers’ access to variety of goods and services at a fair prices.
(4) Right to Seek Redressal: Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices and exploitation.
(5) Right to Represent: We as consumers have the right to represent in the consumer courts. Our interest should receive due consideration at appropriate forums.
(6) Right to Consumer Education : This includes knowledge about goods and issues relating to consumer welfare.

Question 10.
By what means can the consumers express their solidarity ?
Answer:
(1) The consumers can express their solidarity by consumer movement. They form consumer organisations or groups, which are locally known as consumer forums or consumer protection councils.

(2) These voluntary organisations such as Resident Welfare Associations guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer court. They also represent individual consumers in the consumer courts.

Question 11.
Critically examine the progress of consumer movement in India.
Or
How is the consumer redressal process becoming cumbersome ? Give four reasons.
[Annual Paper (Outside Delhi), 2010, Set 1, 2, 3]
Answer:
(1) Positive Consideration :
(i) References to the protection of consumers’ interest against exploitation by trade and industry, underweight, adulteration were made in Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
(ii) However, an organised and systematic movement has been started in the 1960s.
(iii) A major step taken by the government was the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 1986.
(iv) India is one of the countries that has exclusive courts for consumer redressal.
(v) The consumer movement has made remarkable progress in terms of number of organised groups and their activities. There are more than 700 consumer groups in our country of which 20-25 groups are well-organised and recognised for their work.

(2) Criticisms : It is criticised on the following grounds :
(i) The consumer redressal process is expensive and time-consuming.
(ii) In most cases cash memos are not issued. Hence, evidence is not easy to gather.
(iii) Most purchases in the market are from small retail shops.
(iv) The existing laws are not very clear about compensation to consumers injured by defective products.
(v) Consumer awareness is spreading very slowly.
(vi) Enforcement of laws especially in the unorganised sectors is weak.
(vii) Rules and regulations for working of markets are often not followed.
Thus, consumer movements can be effective only with the consumers’ active involvement.

Question 12.
Match the following :
(i) Availing details of ingredients of a product – (a) Right to safety
(ü) 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 – (d) Ag’ncy that develops Court standards for goods and services
(v) Consumers International – (e) Right to information
(vi) Bureau of Indian Standards – (f) Global level institution of consumer welfare organisation
Answer:
(i) (e) Right to information
(ii) (c) Certification of edible oil and cereals
(iii) (a) Right to safety
(iv) (b) Dealing with consumer cases
(v) (f) Global level institution of consumer welfare organisation
(vi) (d) Ag’ncy that develops Court standards for goods and services

Question 13.
Say True or False :
(i) COPRA applies only to goods.
(ii) India is one of the many countries in the world which has exclusive courts for consumer redressal.
(iii) When a consumer feels that he has been exploited, he must file a case to the District Consumer Court.
(iv) It is worthwhile to move to consumer courts only if the damages incurred are of high value.
(v) Hallmark is the certification maintained for standardisation of jewellery.
(vi) The consumer redressal process is very simple and quick.
(vii) A consumer has the right to get compensation depending on the degree of the damage.
Answer:
(i) False
(ii) True
(iii) True
(iv) False
(a) True
(vi) False
(vii) True.

Additional Projects/Activities

Question 1.
Your school organises the consumer awareness week. As the Secretary of the Consumer Awareness Forum, draft a poster covering all the consumer rights. You may use the clues and ideas given in the poster on pages 84 and 85. This activity can be done with the help of your English teacher.
Answer:
Students, do it yourselves.

Question 2.
Mrs Krishna bought a colour television (CTV) against six months warranty. The CTV stopped working after three months. When she complained to the dealer/ shop where it was purchased, they sent an engineer to set it right. The CTV continues to give trouble and Mrs Krishna no longer gets any reply to the complaint she made to the dealer/shop. She decides to write to the Consumer Forum in her area. Write a letter on her behalf. You may discuss with your partner/group members before you write it.
Answer:

B-45, Mayur Vihar
Phase-I,
New Delhi-110091
4th April, 2007

To,
The Chairman,
Consumer Forum,
Mayur Vihar, Phase-I,
New Delhi-110091
Subject: Negligence on the part of CTV dealer/shop Sir,
Most respectfully, I have to say that I bought a colour television from City Electronics, Mayur Vihar, against 6 months’ warranty. But the CTV stopped working only after 3 months. I complained it to the dealer. In response, they sent an engineer to set it right. Still, the CTV continues to give trouble. I complained again and again to the dealer but got no reply from them.

Kindly, guide me for further actions. I shall be obliged for this.

Yours sincerely,
Krishna

Question 3.
Establish a consumer club in your school. Organise mock consumer awareness workshops like monitoring the bookshops, canteen, and shops in your school area.
Answer:
Students, do it yourselves.

Question 4.
Prepare posters with catchy slogans like :
An alert consumer is a safe consumer.

1. Buyers, Beware.
2. Consumers be cautions.
3. Be aware of your right.
4. As consumers, assert your right.
5. Arise, awake and stop not till ……………. (Complete it)

Answer:
Arise, awake and stop not till you get justice.

Question 5.
Interview 4-5 persons in your neighbourhood and collect varied experiences regarding how they have been victims of such exploitation and their responses.
Answer:
Students, do it yourselves.

Question 6.
Conduct a survey in your locality by supplying the following questionnaire to get an idea as to how alert they are as consumers.
Answer: