Lok Sabha Question No. 1800 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Urgent Issues Related to Consumer Affairs in Border Belt Regions of Amritsar
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1800 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2025

## URGENT ISSUES RELATED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS IN BORDER BELT REGIONS OF AMRITSAR

## 1800.  SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  assessment  of  consumer  rights  violations,  unfair  trade practices and price exploitation in border regions and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government ensures strict enforcement of quality standards and food safety regulations for essential food items especially in dairy, grains and packaged goods;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to curb smuggling and counterfeit goods from across the border significantly impact local businesses and consumers;
- (e) whether the prices of essential commodities often fluctuate sharply in border regions especially in Amritsar and nearby areas due to supply chain challenges and if so, the details thereof including the remedial measures taken by the Union Government in this regard;
- (f) whether the Union Government has a special consumer affairs strategy for border regions to ensure that citizens are not exploited by unfair trade practices, adulteration or illegal market activities; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

(a) to (g) : Department of Consumer Affairs is continuously working for protection and empowerment of consumers by enactment of progressive legislations. With a view to modernize the framework governing consumer  protection  in  the  era  of  globalization,  technologies,  e-commerce  markets  etc.,  the  Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was enacted.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides for a three tier quasi-judicial machinery at District, State  and  National  level  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 appropriate. As of 04.12.2025, a total of 13,350 consumer cases have been filed before the Amritsar District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, of which 11,299 cases have been disposed of.

Section 90 and 91 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provide for punishment for manufacturing for  sale  or  for  storing  or  selling  or  for  distributing  or  importing  any  product  containing  an  adulterant  or spurious goods, which includes imprisonment or fine depending on the extent of injury to the consumer.

To safeguard the interests of consumers from unfair trade practices in e-commerce, the Department of Consumer Affairs has 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 National Consumer Helpline (NCH) administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs has emerged as a single point of access to consumers across the country for their grievance redressal at a prelitigation stage. Consumers can register their grievances from all over the country in 17 languages including Punjabi  through  a  toll-free  number  1915.  These  grievances  can  be  registered  on  Integrated  Grievance Redressal Mechanism (INGRAM), an omni-channel IT enabled central portal, through various channelsWhatsApp  (8800001915),  SMS  (8800001915),  email  (nch-ca@gov.in),  the  NCH  app,  the  web  portal (consumerhelpline.gov.in)  and  the  Umang  app,  as  per  their  convenience.    1169  companies,  who  have voluntarily  partnered  with  NCH,  as  part  of  the  'Convergence'  programme  directly  respond  to  these grievances according to their redressal process and revert by providing a feedback to the complainant on the portal.

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, refunds and return of products.

Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  monitors  the  daily  prices  of  38  essential  food  commodities submitted by  575 price monitoring centres (including 12 in Punjab) across the country. The daily price report of Amritsar price monitoring centre is at Annexure . The daily report of prices and indicative price trends are duly analysed for taking appropriate decisions such as release of stocks from the buffer, stock disclosure by stockholding entities, imposition of stock limits, changes in trade policy instruments like rationalisation of import duty, changes in import quota, restrictions on exports of the commodity etc. Government keeps a close watch on the production and availability of essential commodities through regular reviews by the Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC). The Committee reviews, on regular basis, the situation of prices and price trends  of  essential  agri-horticulture  commodities  and  suggests  measures  to  enhance  availability  through increased domestic production and through imports.

In order to tackle the volatility in prices, Government maintains buffer stocks of pulses and onion for market interventions through calibrated and targeted release to moderate the prices in the market. Part of the stock of pulses from the buffer were converted to dals for retail sale to the consumers at affordable prices under the Bharat Dal brand during 2023-24 and 2024-25. Similarly, atta and rice are distributed to retail consumers under Bharat brand at subsidized prices. In 2025-26, onion from the buffer had been released from 4th September, 2025 in a calibrated and targeted manner to moderate prices in high price consuming centres at wholesale markets and through retail outlets. These measures have helped in making essential food commodities available to the general consumers at affordable prices.

Also, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. In order to achieve this mandate, FSSAI through State/UTs food safety authorities including border states and its Regional Offices, conduct regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products including dairy and food grains to check compliance of said standards as per the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder.  Further, FSSAI also monitors imported food in India through a risk-based system. Authorized officers appointed by the FSSAI ensure compliance with the FSS rules and regulations as  per  the  procedures  mentioned  in  the  FSS  (Import)  Regulations,  2017.  In  cases  where  Food  Business Operators (FBOs) are found responsible for violations, appropriate legal action is initiated.

Border Security Force (BSF) deployed in Punjab border is aware of the challenges posed by cross border smuggling activities and several preemptive / proactive measures have been taken to forbid these threats.  Surveillance  equipment,  such  as  CCTV  /  PTZ  cameras  are  placed  strategically  to  ensure  24X7 surveillance of vulnerable patches. Anti-drone systems have been deployed to neutralize counterpart drones. Depth patrolling/Naka and Mobile Check Post (MCP) in depth area, joint patrolling Ops with local police is carried out, perpetually. In addition, BSF conducts awareness campaigns in border villages to involve local communities.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (G) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1800 FOR 10.12.2025 REGARDING URGENT ISSUES RELATED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS IN BORDER BELT REGIONS OF AMRITSAR

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| Commodities            | Unit    | Price As On   | 1 Day      | 1 Week     | 1 Month    |
|------------------------|---------|---------------|------------|------------|------------|
| Commodities            | Unit    | 02/12/2025    | 01/12/2025 | 25/11/2025 | 02/11/2025 |
| Rice                   | 1 Kg    | 40            | 40         | 40         | 40         |
| Wheat                  | 1 Kg    | 28            | 28         | 28         | 28         |
| Atta (Wheat)           | 1 Kg    | 32            | 32         | 32         | 32         |
| Gram Dal               | 1 Kg    | 87            | 87         | 87         | 83         |
| Tur/Arhar Dal          | 1 Kg    | 118           | 118        | 118        | 118        |
| Urad Dal               | 1 Kg    | 132           | 132        | 132        | 132        |
| Moong Dal              | 1 Kg    | 115           | 115        | 115        | 115        |
| Masoor Dal             | 1 Kg    | 92            | 92         | 92         | 92         |
| Groundnut Oil (Packed) | 1 Kg    | 220           | 220        | 220        | 220        |
| Mustard Oil (Packed)   | 1 Kg    | 198           | 198        | 198        | 198        |
| Vanaspati (Packed)     | 1 Kg    | 165           | 165        | 165        | 165        |
| Soya Oil (Packed)      | 1 Kg    | 150           | 150        | 150        | 150        |
| Sunflower Oil (Packed) | 1 Kg    | 188           | 188        | 188        | 188        |
| Palm Oil (Packed)      | 1 Kg    | NR            | NR         | NR         | NR         |
| Potato                 | 1 Kg    | 20            | 23         | 25         | 22         |
| Onion                  | 1 Kg    | 25            | 25         | 26         | 25         |
| Tomato                 | 1 Kg    | 53            | 55         | 72         | 30         |
| Sugar                  | 1 Kg    | 46            | 46         | 46         | 45         |
| Gur                    | 1 Kg    | 57            | 57         | 57         | 57         |
| Milk@                  | 1 Ltr   | 57            | 57         | 57         | 57         |
| Tea Loose              | 1 Kg    | 277           | 277        | 277        | 275        |
| Salt Pack (Iodised)    | 1 Kg    | 29            | 29         | 29         | 30         |
| Bajra (whole)          | 1 Kg    | 36            | 36         | 36         | 37         |
| Jowar (whole)          | 1 Kg    | 39            | 39         | 39         | 39         |
| Maida (wheat)          | 1 Kg    | 40            | 40         | 40         | 40         |
| Ragi (whole)           | 1 kg    | 58            | 58         | 58         | 58         |
| Suji (whole)           | 1 Kg    | 40            | 40         | 40         | 40         |
| Besan                  | 1 Kg    | 95            | 95         | 95         | 97         |
| Desi Ghee              | 1 Kg    | 663           | 663        | 663        | 666        |
| Butter (Pasteurised)   | 100 gm  | 59            | 59         | 59         | 59         |
| Eggs                   | 1 Dozen | 89            | 89         | 87         | 79         |
| Brinjal                | 1 Kg    | 40            | 40         | 40         | 42         |
| Black Pepper (whole)   | 100 gm  | 92            | 92         | 92         | 95         |
| Coriander (whole)      | 250 gm  | 38            | 38         | 38         | 37         |
| Cummin Seed (whole)    | 100 gm  | 30            | 30         | 30         | 30         |
| Red Chillies (whole)   | 100 gm  | 29            | 29         | 29         | 29         |
| Turmeric (powder)      | 50 gm   | 13            | 13         | 13         | 13         |
| Banana                 | 1 Kg    | 45            | 45         | 45         | 43         |