Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The consumer movement in India was triggered by rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, and adulteration of food and edible oil in the 1960s. No legal system existed to protect consumers, who were expected to be cautious on their own.

Initially (till the 1970s), consumer organisations focused on writing articles, holding exhibitions, and examining malpractices in ration shops and road transport. Over time, the movement grew in scale, eventually pressuring the government to enact COPRA 1986.

This evolution shows that consumer exploitation shifted from basic food adulteration to complex marketplace malpractices, requiring formal legal mechanisms rather than mere awareness campaigns.

Source: Consumer Movement, Chapter 5

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• Examiners expect: (1) conditions that gave birth to the movement, (2) evolution of priorities, (3) what this suggests — all three addressed concisely.
• Key terms to include: hoarding, black marketing, adulteration, COPRA 1986.
• Avoid listing too many points; integrate them into a flowing short answer. Three marks = ~3 distinct points, each briefly explained.