World Consumer Rights Day 2025: Know Your Rights and Make Informed Choices
A short Article by Advocate Mampi Roy (Siliguri Court, West Bengal), Mob: 9002633426 / 9475300654
World Consumer Rights Day is observed every year on March 15 to raise awareness about consumer rights and protect people from unfair trade practices. In India, this day is especially important as millions of consumers face issues like misleading advertisements, defective products, unfair pricing, and poor service. In 2025, it and focuses on making sustainable and eco-friendly products accessible to everyone. The idea behind this theme is to ensure that people can buy safe, ethical, and environmentally friendly products without any difficulty. The observance of this day began in 1983, inspired by a speech given by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1962, where he highlighted the importance of consumer rights. In India, consumer protection has gained more strength with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which ensures that buyers are not exploited and have a legal platform to seek justice.
Every Indian consumer has the right to safety, the right to be informed about a product, the right to choose from different options, and the right to be heard if they face any issues. Companies must ensure that their products meet safety standards such as ISI, FSSAI, and AGMARK certifications to protect consumers from harmful goods. People should always check expiry dates, ingredients, and quality before buying a product. If someone is misled by false advertisements or defective products, they can report the issue and demand a refund or replacement. To help consumers, the government has set up various consumer forums, including District, State, and National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions (DCDRC, SCDRC, NCDRC), where complaints can be filed. India also has the National Consumer Helpline (1800-11-4000), where people can report fraud or get advice on their consumer rights.
Consumer protection in India is essential because people often fall victim to unfair pricing, hidden charges, and online fraud. With the rise of e-commerce, many consumers face issues with fake products, delayed deliveries, and cyber fraud. The government is working towards stronger digital consumer protection laws to ensure that online buyers are safe. Consumers should always be cautious while shopping online, check seller ratings, and avoid deals that seem too good to be true.
If an Indian consumer’s rights are violated, they should first contact the seller or customer service and keep all proofs like receipts, warranties, and emails. If the issue is not resolved, they can lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Helpline or file a case in the consumer courts. Consumer awareness is the key to preventing fraud. People should always ask for bills, avoid unverified sellers, and report any unfair practices they encounter. This World Consumer Rights Day, let us all take a step toward protecting our rights and ensuring a fair marketplace for every Indian buyer.
MCQS from TMV team
1. When is World Consumer Rights Day observed every year?
a) March 10
b) March 15
c) April 5
d) December 10
Answer: b) March 15
2. What is the theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2025?
a) Sustainable Consumerism
b) Ethical Business Practices
c) A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles
d) Consumer Protection in the Digital Age
Answer: c) A Just Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles
3. Which U.S. President first formally recognized consumer rights?
a) Franklin D. Roosevelt
b) John F. Kennedy
c) Ronald Reagan
d) Barack Obama
Answer: b) John F. Kennedy
4. In which year was World Consumer Rights Day first observed?
a) 1962
b) 1975
c) 1983
d) 1991
Answer: c) 1983
5. What are the four fundamental consumer rights recognized by President Kennedy?
a) Right to Safety, Right to Be Informed, Right to Choose, Right to Be Heard
b) Right to Profit, Right to Sell, Right to Advertise, Right to Ignore Complaints
c) Right to Bargain, Right to Import, Right to Export, Right to Sell
d) Right to Discounts, Right to Warranty, Right to Return, Right to Complain
Answer: a) Right to Safety, Right to Be Informed, Right to Choose, Right to Be Heard
6. What does the ‘Right to Safety’ protect consumers from?
a) Expensive products
b) Hazardous products and services
c) Fake discounts
d) Warranty-related issues
Answer: b) Hazardous products and services
7. The ‘Right to Be Informed’ ensures that consumers:
a) Are given free products
b) Receive detailed and accurate product information
c) Get to choose their warranty period
d) Can return any product anytime
Answer: b) Receive detailed and accurate product information
8. What does the ‘Right to Choose’ ensure for consumers?
a) They get free samples
b) They can select from a variety of products at fair prices
c) They must buy products from specific sellers
d) They receive automatic discounts
Answer: b) They can select from a variety of products at fair prices
9. What does the ‘Right to Be Heard’ mean for consumers?
a) Their complaints will be ignored
b) They can raise grievances and expect action
c) They must accept unfair trade practices
d) They are forced to buy certain brands
Answer: b) They can raise grievances and expect action
10. What is the purpose of World Consumer Rights Day?
a) To promote business profits
b) To highlight consumer rights and protection
c) To encourage customers to buy more products
d) To help companies sell at higher prices
Answer: b) To highlight consumer rights and protection
11. What is a key focus area of the 2025 theme?
a) Reducing the number of consumer complaints
b) Making sustainable choices accessible and affordable
c) Encouraging mass production without regulations
d) Increasing consumer spending
Answer: b) Making sustainable choices accessible and affordable
12. Which of the following is an example of misleading advertising?
a) A company displaying accurate product details
b) A product claiming to be ‘100% natural’ but containing artificial preservatives
c) A brand offering a genuine discount on old stock
d) A seller providing a bill with all necessary information
Answer: b) A product claiming to be ‘100% natural’ but containing artificial preservatives
13. How can consumers protect themselves from unfair trade practices?
a) Accept all claims made in advertisements
b) Avoid checking product labels
c) Always insist on bills and receipts
d) Never report fraud
Answer: c) Always insist on bills and receipts
14. What is the main role of consumer protection laws?
a) To help businesses increase sales
b) To regulate product prices
c) To protect consumers from fraud, unsafe products, and unfair practices
d) To encourage overproduction
Answer: c) To protect consumers from fraud, unsafe products, and unfair practices
15. What should consumers do if they face unfair pricing or defective products?
a) Ignore the issue
b) Report the problem to consumer protection agencies
c) Accept the defective product without complaint
d) Continue buying from the same seller
Answer: b) Report the problem to consumer protection agencies
16. What does the ‘Right to Seek Redressal’ allow consumers to do?
a) Demand compensation or a replacement for defective products
b) Sell products at any price they wish
c) Ignore safety issues
d) Advertise products freely
Answer: a) Demand compensation or a replacement for defective products
17. How can consumers contribute to sustainable consumption?
a) By using more plastic products
b) By avoiding single-use plastics and choosing eco-friendly alternatives
c) By buying products without checking labels
d) By purchasing items without considering their environmental impact
Answer: b) By avoiding single-use plastics and choosing eco-friendly alternatives
18. How does World Consumer Rights Day help bridge the digital divide?
a) By promoting unrestricted online sales
b) By advocating for cybersecurity, data privacy, and fair pricing in e-commerce
c) By reducing internet access for consumers
d) By eliminating digital transactions
Answer: b) By advocating for cybersecurity, data privacy, and fair pricing in e-commerce
19. Which organization can consumers contact in India for complaints under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019?
a) Reserve Bank of India
b) National Consumer Helpline (NCH)
c) Election Commission of India
d) Indian Meteorological Department
Answer: b) National Consumer Helpline (NCH)
20. What is one way businesses can promote consumer rights?
a) Selling defective products
b) Providing false advertisements
c) Adopting ethical and sustainable business practices
d) Increasing prices without informing customers
Answer: c) Adopting ethical and sustainable business practices