World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 to be celebrated on the theme “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions”

World Consumer Rights Day, 2023: World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year around the world including India to promote consumer rights awareness and inform consumers how to enforce their rights in case violated. World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 is also important for UPSC Prelims Exam 2023 and UPSC Mains Exam (GS Paper 2- Various Policies and Programs of the government for good governance in the country.)

World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 in News

The World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 is being celebrated by the Department of Consumer Affairs on Wednesday, 15th March 2023. In this context, the Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Nidhi Khare interacted with media persons and informed the theme of the World Consumer Rights Day, 2023.

World Consumer Rights Day Background

The World Consumer Rights day was first observed and celebrated on March 15, 1983. It was inspired by US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s US Congress address on March 15, 1962.

• On 15^th March 1962, President Kennedy addressed the issue of consumer rights and laid emphasis on its importance and became the first world leader to talk about consumer rights.
• Since 1983, Every year on the day of March 15, several organisations like Consumer International celebrate the occasion by holding events and campaigns to safeguard consumer rights.

World Consumer Rights Day, 2023

World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 celebration is organized to ensure consumer awareness about their consumer rights. Extensive consumer awareness drives conducted under World Consumer Rights Day aims to ensure that consumers are not subjected to market exploitation or injustice that may jeopardize their rights.

World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 theme

World Consumer Rights Day, 2023 is being organized on the theme of “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions”. Through this, World Consumer Rights Day 2023 aims to raise awareness of consumer empowerment and their role to push for a faster clean energy transition.

Consumer Rights in India

The Consumer Protection (CP) Act of 2019 deals with protection of consumer rights in India. It defines a person as a consumer who avails the services or buys any good for self-use for a consideration. The Consumer Protection Act excludes a person from its coverage who obtains a good for resale or a good or service for commercial purpose.

• Coverage: It has expanded its coverage to transactions through all modes including offline, and online through electronic means, teleshopping, multi-level marketing, or direct selling.
• Defines consumer rights: It provides for six consumer rights and they are-
  • Right to Safety.
  • Right to be Informed.
  • Right to Choose.
  • Right to be heard.
  • Right to seek Redressal.
  • Right to Consumer Education.

Dispute redressal mechanisms for Consumers

The Consumer Protection (CP) Act of 2019 provides for Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions (CDRCs) at the district, state, and national levels. Jurisdiction of CDRCs-

• District CDRCs: complaints of up to 1 crore value of goods and services.
• State CDRCs: complaints of more than 1 crore but less than 10 crores of goods and services.
• National CDRC: for complaints with a value of goods and services over Rs 10 crores.
• Appeal against the order of the National CDRC lies in the Supreme Court.

World Consumer Rights Day FAQs

1. When is the World Consumer Rights Day celebrated?

Ans. World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated annually on 15^th March.

2. What is the theme of the World Consumer Rights Day 2023?

Ans. The theme of the World Consumer Rights Day 2023 is “Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions”.

3. How many consumer rights are available in India?

Ans. The Consumer Protection (CP) Act of 2019 provides for six consumer rights and they are-

• • Right to Safety.
  • Right to be Informed.
  • Right to Choose.
  • Right to be heard.
  • Right to seek Redressal.
  • Right to Consumer Education.

Consumer Protection Act of 2019