Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The consumer movement in India emerged due to widespread exploitation in the marketplace and the absence of any legal protection for consumers. For a long time, an unhappy consumer could only avoid a particular shop or brand — this individual response had no collective impact on unfair trade practices.

Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, and adulteration of food and edible oil in the 1960s made organised action necessary. Individual complaints could not pressure businesses or government because sellers faced no accountability. Only when consumer groups collectively wrote articles, held exhibitions, and exposed malpractices in ration shops did real change begin, eventually leading to the enactment of COPRA in 1986.

Source: Consumer Rights, Chapter 5 — Consumer Movement section

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• The examiner expects two angles: (1) the social/economic conditions (shortages, adulteration, hoarding) and (2) why individual action was insufficient (no legal system, no collective pressure).
• Mention of the 1960s organised movement and COPRA 1986 shows timeline awareness — examiners reward this.
• Avoid listing only causes; the question specifically asks why individual complaints weren't enough, so address that directly.
• At 3 marks, keep to 2–3 tight points; one short paragraph per idea is ideal.