Lok Sabha Question No. 4304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Strengthening of Consumer Protections Laws
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Smt. Pratima Mondal

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.4304

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26TH MARCH, 2025

## STRENGTHENING OF CONSUMER PROTECTIONS LAWS

4304. SMT. PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps being taken by  the  Government to  integrate digital  technologies such as biometric authentication and smart ration cards into  the  PDS thereby ensuring greater accountability  ;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen consumer protection laws in India to ensure that consumers receive safe, high-quality and fairly  priced  goods; and
- (c) the  manner  in  which the  Government ensures  adequate  buffer stock  management, preventing shortages of staple foodgrains like rice, wheat and pulses?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI  BAMBHANIY A)

- (a): As part of the technology driven Targeted Public Distribution  System (TPDS) reforms, with the aim to improve the efficiency and  reduce  leakages  in the TPDS,  ration cards/beneficiaries database have  been completely  digitized (100%)  in  all  States/UTs. At present, 5.41 lakh (99.6%) out of total  5.43 lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) have been automated by installing ePoS  devices  for the distribution of foodgrains in a  transparent  manner (electronically) through  biometric/Aadhaar authentication of  beneficiaries under the  PDS system
- (b): Department of Consumer Affairs  is continuously working  for  consumer protection and empowerment of  consumers by  enactment of  progressive legislations.  With  a  view  to modernize the framework governing the consumer protection  in the new era of globalization, technologies, e-commerce markets etc. Consumer Protection Act,  1986 was repealed and Consumer Protection  Act,  2019 was enacted.

The Consumer Protection Act,  2019 provides for a three tier quasi-judicial  machinery at District, State and Central levels commonly known as 'Consumer Commissions' for protection of the rights of  consumers and to provide  simple and speedy redressal of consumer disputes including  those related with  unfair  trade practices. The Consumer Commissions are empowered to give relief  of a specific nature and award compensation to consumers, wherever approprlate.

Salient  features of  the  new  Consumer Protection  Act.  2019  are establishment of  a Central Consumer Protection Authority(CCPA); simplification of  the adjudication  process in the  Consumer Commissions such as  enhancing pecuniary jurisdiction  of  the  Consumer Commissions, online filing  of complaint  from the Consumer Commission having jurisdiction over  the  place  of  work/residence of  the  consumer  irrespective  of  the  place  of  transaction, videoconferencing for  hearing, deemed admissibility  of  complaints if  admissibility  is  not decided within  21  days of  filing;  provision of  product liability;  penal provisions for manufacture/sale of  adulterated products/spurious goods; provision for  making rules for prevention of unfair trade practice in e-commerce and direct selling.

Under  the  provisions of  the  Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019,  the  Central  Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA),  an executive agency, came into  existence on 24.07.2020. It  is designed to intervene, to prevent consumer detriment  arising  from  unfair  trade practices and to initiate class action(s), including the enforcement of recalls, refbnds and return of products. Its core mandate is  to  prevent and regulate false  or  misleading advertisements which  are prejudicial  to the public  interest.

To safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices in  e-commerce, the Department of Consumer Affairs  has also notified  the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 under the provisions of  the Consumer Protection Act,  2019. These rules, inter-alia, outline the responsibilities of  e-commerce entities and specify the liabilities  of marketplace  and inventory e-commerce entities, including provisions for consumer grievance redressal.

The CCPA  has  also  notified the Guidelines for Prevention  of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for  Misleading  Advertisements, 2022  on 9th June, 2022. These guidelines inter-alia provide for;  (a) conditions for  an  advertisement  to  be  nonmisleading and valid;  (b)  certain stipulations in respect of  bait advertisements and free claim advertisements;  and, (c)  duties  of  manufacturer, service provider,  advertiser and advertising agency. These guidelines states that  due  diligence is  required for endorsement of advertisements such  that any  endorsement in an  advertisement must  reflect the  genuine, reasonably current opinion of the individual,  group or organisation making such representation and must be based on adequate information  about, or  experience with,  the identified  goods, product or service and must not otherwise be deceptive.

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The CCPA issued the 'Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023'  on  30th November 2023. These guidelines address and regulate 13 specific dark patterns identified  in the e-commerce sector, aiming  to prevent deceptive practices that mislead consumers  .

Further, Bureau of  Indian  Standards (BIS)  introduced the  framework on  'Online Consumer Reviews Principles and Requirements for  their Collection, Moderation, and Publication' on  23rd November 2022. This framework safeguards consumer interests by addressing fake and deceptive reviews  in  e-commerce. While  the standards are voluntary,  they apply to all  online platforms that publish  consumer reviews and are guided by principles  such as integrity, accuracy,  privacy, security, transparency, accessibility, and responsiveness.'

This Department has formulated and issued a Quality Control Manual, in  order to maintain the quality  standards of  foodgrains from procurement to its distribution to the eligible beneficiaries  through various social security  programmes of Government of India (GoI).

(c): Government of India (GoI)  has revised the food grain  stocking norms with  effect from 22.01.2015 with  the objectives to meet the prescribed minimum stocking norms for  food security, to  meet emergency situations arising out of unexpected crop failure, nature disasters etc and to  ensure supply of  foodgrains through the Targeted Pub]ic Distribution  System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).

The total stock of foodgrains (Rice and Wheat) in the Central Pool as on 01.01.2025 is 475.03 Lakh NIT as against the Foodgrains Stocking Norms of 214.10 lakh MT,  which is sufficient  to meet the requirement  under TPDS and OWS.

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