Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

Common Underlying Reason:
Both consumers and unorganised sector workers face exploitation because of an imbalance of power. Producers and employers are few, powerful, and well-organised, while consumers and workers are large in number but scattered and weak individually. Moneylenders bind borrowers through unfair conditions; large companies manipulate markets through false information; employers force workers to accept low wages and harmful conditions. In all cases, the weaker party cannot protect itself without external support — hence rules and regulations become necessary.

Why Exploitation Continues Despite Rules:

• Enforcement of laws protecting workers in unorganised sectors is weak.
• Rules and regulations for markets are often not followed.
• Consumer redressal is cumbersome, expensive and time-consuming.
• In most retail purchases, cash memos are not issued, making evidence difficult to gather.
• Consumer awareness is spreading but only slowly.

Active participation of consumers and civil society organisations is essential for rules to be truly effective.

Source: Chapter 5 — The Consumer in the Marketplace; Taking the Consumer Movement Forward

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The examiner expects you to link both groups (consumers + unorganised workers) to a single common cause — power imbalance — and then list practical reasons why exploitation persists despite laws. The passage explicitly states: "enforcement of laws that protect workers…is weak. Similarly, rules and regulations for working of markets are often not followed." Quoting or paraphrasing these lines directly scores well. For 5 marks, aim for one clear conceptual paragraph + 4–5 crisp points on why rules fail in practice.