Before consumer organisations became active, the common response of an unhappy buyer was simply to avoid that…

Question

Before consumer organisations became active, the common response of an unhappy buyer was simply to avoid that shop or brand. Why was this individual response insufficient to protect consumers, and how did the consumer movement address this limitation?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Individual boycott of a shop or brand was insufficient because it only affected one seller and did nothing to stop widespread unfair practices like hoarding, adulteration, and black marketing that harmed all consumers. There was no legal system to seek redress, and the burden was entirely on the individual consumer to "be careful." The consumer movement addressed this by organising collectively as a social force — forming consumer groups, holding exhibitions, exposing malpractices in ration shops, and creating public awareness. This collective pressure compelled the government to enact the **Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (COPRA)**, shifting responsibility for quality from the buyer to the seller. *Source: Consumer Movement, Chapter 5* --- ## Explanation - The examiner wants **two clear parts**: (1) why individual response failed, and (2) how the organised movement fixed it. Both must appear for full 3 marks. - Key phrases to include: "no legal system," "collective/orga…

Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question