Explain any four needs of consumer protection.

Answer: Consumer protection is needed because consumers are exploited, ignorant, unorganised and need protection of health and safety.

1. Protection against exploitation: Sellers may exploit consumers through adulteration, short weights and measures, high prices, duplicate goods and misleading advertisements. Consumer protection guards them against such unfair trade practices.
2. Ignorance of consumers: Many consumers, especially in rural areas, do not know their rights or the quality, price and use of products. They need protection and education.
3. Unorganised consumers: Consumers are scattered and unorganised while producers are organised and powerful. Consumer protection gives them a collective voice.
4. Protection of health and safety: Unsafe drugs, adulterated food and defective electrical goods can harm life and health. Consumer protection ensures safe and standard goods.
5. Quick and inexpensive redressal: Ordinary courts are costly and slow. Consumer commissions give simple, quick and cheap remedies.
6. Survival of business: Satisfied consumers ensure the long-term survival and goodwill of business, so protecting consumers is in the interest of business also.