RBSE Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights

Rajasthan Board RBSE Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers

RBSE Class 10 Social Science Solutions Economics Chapter 5 Consumer Rights

RBSE Class 10 Social Science Consumer Rights InText Questions and Answers

Page-77 (Let's work these out)

Question 1. 
What are the various ways by which people may be exploited in the market ?
Answer:
The main ways of exploitation of consumer are described below-

• Under Measurement- Sellers generally give under measured goods and charge for the actual quantity.
• High Price- Sellers usually sell inferior quality goods in order to make more profits.
• Adulteration- Adulteration means mixing or substituting undesirable materials in food. This causes heavy loss to the customers
• False Claim- Sellers make false claim about the durability and quality of their product through advertisements.
• Hoarding and Black Marketing- Traders generally hold the stock of essential commodities to create artificial scarcity in the market so that they can sell their commodities at higher price.
• Substandard Goods- Sellers usually sell inferior quality of goods in order to make more profits.
• After Sale Services- Sellers usually do not provide satisfactory services after sale to consumers.
• Duplicate Articles- In the name of genuine parts or goods, duplicate items are sold to the consumers.

Question 3. 
What do you think should be the role of government to protect consumers ?
Answer:

• For the security of consumers, there should be proper advertisement of consumer laws and regulations and they should be followed strictly.
• Government should make it compulsory for the producers that, on every product price, manufacturing date, expiry date, guaranteel warranty times period, name of producer, address and telephone no. should be printed.

Page-78 (Let's work these out)

Question 1. 
What could have been the steps taken by consumer groups ?
Answer:
Many steps can be taken by consumer groups to aware the consumers-

• Consumers should be made aware about their rights.
• Consumers should be made aware about consumer laws.
• Consumers should be made aware regarding the complaint process and consumer courts.
• To aware consumers, consumer awareness programs should be conducted by consumer groups time to time.

Question 2. 
There may be rules and regulations but they are often not followed. Why ? Discuss.
Answer:
The rules and regulations are often not followed because the maximum no. of consumers are not aware about their rights. Inspite of knowledge of matter they do not complain, because they do not want to indulge in legal formalities. Except these, due to corruption and non-co-operation of officers, rules and regulations are not followed. 

Page-79 (Let's work these out)

Question 1. 
For the following product/services discuss what safety rules should be observed by the producers ?
(a) LPG cylinder (b) cinema theatre, (c) circus (d) medicines, (e) edible oil, (f) marriage pandal, (g) a high-rise building.
Answer:
(a) L.P.G. Cylinder: While filling the cylinder modern equipments should be used and proper care should be taken place. Producers should be given special attention to safety. Computer weight with the seal of company should be there on cyclinders.

(b) Cinema Theatre: Time to time licence should be checked. There should be proper parking facility. Proper arrangement of safety should be there in theatre. Toilet facilities should be provided. Canteen facility at appropriate prices with quality products should be provided.

(c) Circus: For circus appropriate and ample place should be decided. Parking place should be made available to viewers. Before the entry. proper checking should be taken place. There should be appropriate arrangement for wild animals and proper training and food should be provided to wild animals. Fire-safety equipments should be there.

(d) Medicines: Appropriate health and security measures should be taken care while manufacturing medicines. Any prohibited medicine should not be used. Price, combination of drugs, production date, expiry date, name of company and address should be printed on the packs airs of medicines.

(e) Edible Oil: Pure ingredient should be used while producing edible oil and appropriate packing should be done. Production date, expiry date, price etc. should be written on pack. Adulteration should not taken place. Producers should use appropriate trademark.

(f) Marriage Pandal: With the appropriate and sufficient space, there should be arrangement of water and light. Fire extinguishers should be arranged at marriage pandal. There should also be enough space for parking of the vehicles of visitors at marriage pandal.

(g) A high-rise building: Construction of high-rise building should be according to the approved map. There should be appropriate facility of water, electricity, fire extinguisher, security etc. Parking and lift facility should be provided in high rise building. 

Page-81 (Let's work these out)

Question 1. 
When we buy commodities, we find that the price charged is sometimes higher or lower than Maximum Retail price printed on the pack ? Discuss the possible reasons. Should consumer groups do something about this ?
Answer:
It is right that many times sellers sell goods lesser or higher than printed price. There may be many reasons for the same. Many times in order to attract customers producers reduce their profit and sell at lesser price, but when producers sell at lesser price, there are chances of adulterated/fake goods. Many times due to ignorance, illiteracy, passiveness of consumers, the sellers sell goods at higher price.

If consumer groups are not satisfied with the price, under their rights, they can complain in consumer courts.

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, RTI provides us the right to enquire question related to our benefits from government organisations and it is compulsory for government departments to provide information within given period of time, else the consumer can complain against it. 

Page-84 (Let's work these out)

Question 1. 
Arrange the following in the correct order
(a) 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:
(g) Arita purchases a wall clock from a retail outlet.
(c) She realises that the dealer has given her defective material.
(e) She goes and complains to the dealer and the Branch office, to no effect.
(b) She engages a professional person.
(a) She files a case in the District Consumer Court.
(d) She starts attending the court proceedings.
(f) She is asked to produce the bill and warranty before the court.
(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. 

Page-86 (Let's work these out)

Question 3. 
What is the difference between consumer protection council and consumer court ?
Answer:
Consumer Protection Council: According to the arrangement of the Consumer Protection Act, the Consumer Protection Council is formed at the central, state and district levels. At the central level, they are formed under the chairman-ship of the Minister of Consumer Affairs of the centre, the Minister of Consumer Affairs of the State in the State and the District Collector at the district level. They have both government and non-government members. These councils work to protect the interests of the consumer in various ways.

Consumer Court: A three-tier judicial system has been set-up under the Consumer Protection Act to settle consumer disputes. These are called consumer courts at the 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.
(a) Lata got an electric shock from a newly purchased iron. She complained to the shop-keeper immediately. ()
(b) John is dissatisfied with the services provided by MTNL / BSNL / TATA INDICOM 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 data 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 consumer education 
(d) Right to information 
(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:
Some products that affect the safety and health of the consumer or which are used extensively, the ISI or Agmark certification is mandatory for their production. It is not necessary for all producers to follow these criteria. Apart from this, some greedy people who make fake products and sell goods at low prices also do not use them.

RBSE Class 10 Social Science Consumer Rights Textbook Questions and Answers

Question 1. 
Why are rules and regulations required in the market place ? Illustrate with a few examples. 
Or
"Rules and regulations are necessary to ensure the security of consumers." Illustrate with appropriate logic.
Answer:
Rules and regulations are required to protect consumers and labourers against exploitations because of the following reasons-
1. It has been observed that labourers have been exploited by their employers and producers. And consumers are exploited by sellers and shopkeepers. So rules and regulations are required to protect them.

2. Usually the large companies with huge wealth, power and reach can manipulate market in various ways. At times false information is passed on through the media to attract consumers. So, rules and regulations are required for the protection of the consumers in the market place.

Question 2. 
What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India ? Trace its evolution.
Or 
Why did consumer movement began in India ? Describe this movement.
Or 
Explain any three reasons responsible for consumer movement in India.
Or 
What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India ? Explain.
Or
What do you understand by consumer movement ?
Answer:
Reasons for Evolution of Consumer Movement:

• Unfair practices adopted by sellers caused dissatisfaction among the consumers.
• There was lack of legal system to protect consumers from exploitation in the market.
• In India, the consumer movement originated as a social force with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interest of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices.
• Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organised form in 1960s.

Evolution of Consumer Movement: 

• Till the 1970s, consumer organisations were largely engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed consumer groups and their number have been increasing throughout.
• A major step taken by the Indian government in the form of enactment of COPRA in 1986.

Question 3. 
Explain the need for consumer consciousness by giving two examples.
Answer:
1. The need for consumer awareness was felt when traders and manufacturers began to indulge in unfair practices such as they began to charge high prices, sell adulterated goods, weight less than what they should etc.

2. The need for consumer awareness was felt with high intensity when some corrupt traders began to play with the health of the people by indulging in adulteration of edible oil, ghee, milk, butter etc.

Question 4. 
Mention a few factors which cause exploitation of consumers.
Or 
Mention a few factors which cause exploitation of consumers. Illustrate with any three reasons.
Or 
Describe any two factors, which leads to exploitation of consumers.
Answer:
Following are the main factors responsible for consumers exploitation-

1. Illiteracy, lack of awareness, passiveness of consumers are the important factors.
2. Consumers are the quite ignorant of their rights and duties.
3. The rules and regulations for consumer protection are not implemented properly and their procedure is quite long, so consumers do not take any interest to fight for their rights.

Question 5. 
What is the rationale behind the enactment of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 ?
Answer:
The consumer movement in India has led to the formation of various organisations known as consumer forum. The number of consumer groups increased. There was increased pressure on government to protect consumers so government formed Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Government has formed this Act in order to

• Protect the consumer's interest.
• To control malpractices adopted by producers etc.

Question 6. 
Describe some of your duties as consumers if you visit a shopping complex in your locality.
Answer:
Duties, as a consumer

• I will look at the quality of the product as well as only guarantee of that products and services.
• I will ask for cash memo for the items I would purchase.
• I will buy certified goods-ISI, Agmark etc.
• To make complaint against genuine grievances.
• As a consumer I will know my rights and must exercise them.

Question 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:
If I buy a bottle of honey and a biscuit packet I will look at the ISI mark or Agmark logo.
I will do it to ensure that honey and biscuit which I am going to purchase are of good quality and fit for consumption for other members of my family.

Question 8. 
What legal measures were taken by the government to empower the consumers in India ?
Answer:
(i) The government of India had adopted three strategies-(a) Legislative, (b) Administrative, (c) Technical
(ii) Legislative measures include enactment of the consumer protection act.
(iii) Government has set-up PDS as an administrative measure to control prices and also quality of some of the essential things.

(iv) The government enacted a specified law called consumer protection act, 1986. This act was passed for the protection of the consumers unscrupulous producers and dishonest traders. This act provides platform for the establishment of consumers courts. Redressal agencies were established at district, state and national levels for protection and promotion of consumers interest and to redress their grievances in a speedy, simple and inexpensive manner.

Question 9. 
Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.
Answer:
The following rights of consumers are provided by law
1. Right to Safety: The consumers have the right to be protected against marketing goods and services. Goods like electrical goods and pressure cookers can cause serious injury, if there is any manufacturing defect in them. There is also a risk to life.

2. Right to be Informed: All information regarding the product, its ingredients, date of manufacture, precaution of use etc. should be enumerated either on the package or separately on a piece of paper. Thus a consumer has a right to be informed.

3. Right to Choose: This right assures to choose variety of goods and services at competitive prices. The manufacturer should not use aggressive selling techniques to sell a particular product.

4. Right to be Heard: The consumer should be assured that complaints or grievances regarding a product or service will be considered. Newspapers and consumer associations should encourage dissatisfied consumer to write about products. Thus, the right to be heard should be available to every consumer.

5. Right to Seek Redressal: When consumers are cheated or exploited, they have a right to get their claims settled against manufacturer. A number of consumer court or agencies have been set-up specifically for this purpose.

6. Right to Consumer Education: A consumer can be protected against frauds only when he/she knows that there is a law dealing with such malpractices. He/she should be aware of the rights and the remedies available.

Question 10. 
By what means can the consumers, express their solidarity ?
Answer:
Consumers can form union and formal association or groups for protection of their rights. They can take help of legal experts. The fee and charges of experts or lawyers can be borne by union or association. The affected man can deposit or pay the due at reasonably sufficient amount in the office of consumer union or association of his locality.

Question 11. 
Critically examine the progress of consumer movement in India.
Answer:
In India food shortage, hoarding, black marketing and adulteration gave birth to the consumer movement in an organised from in' the 1960s. Till the 1970s consumer organisations were largely engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions etc.

Later on some consumer groups were formed in a formal manner. Their number were increased continuously. Under the pressure of formal consumer groups or unions in 1986, government of India passed the consumer protection act, 1986. Today 700 consumer groups are formed but out of 700 only 20-25 are organised and recognised by government.

Under the Consumer Protection Act, consumer courts have been formed in India, but still people are not aware in this regard and the process is quite long and complex, so | people do not take any interest appealing in, this respect.

Question 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 develop 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 informaation
(ii) Agmark	(c) Certification of edible oil and cereals
(iii) Accident due to faulty engine in a scooter	(a) Right to safety
(iv) District Consumer Court	(b) Dealing with consumer cases
(v) Consumers International	(f) Global level institution of consumer welfare organisations
(vi) Bureau of Indian Standards	(d) Agency that develop 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 in 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
(v) True
(vi) False
(vii) True