Q1. [3] medium thorough-understanding
Despite the Consumer Protection Act being in force for several decades, the consumer redressal process in India is still considered cumbersome and slow. (a) Identify any two specific reasons for this. (b) Explain how key amendments to COPRA have attempted to address these limitations and make the redressal mechanism more accessible to consumers.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:28 · grounding rag
Model Answer
(a) Two reasons why the redressal process is cumbersome:
- Consumers are often required to engage lawyers, making the process expensive and time-consuming.
- Cash memos are not issued in most retail purchases, making it difficult to gather evidence.
(b) Key amendments under COPRA 2019:
- Online purchases (buying through the internet) are now included under its scope.
- Service providers/manufacturers are held responsible for defective products and can be penalised or imprisoned.
- Mediation by a neutral intermediary is now encouraged at all three tiers, enabling faster out-of-court settlements.
Source: Taking the Consumer Movement Forward, Chapter 5
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Explanation
- For part (a), pick any two from: lawyers needed, no cash memos, time-consuming proceedings. The passage lists these directly — stick to them.
- For part (b), the three 2019 COPRA amendments are the key points examiners expect: internet inclusion, manufacturer liability, and mediation. Name all three for full marks.
- Don't confuse "amendments" with general consumer rights — the question specifically asks about changes made to COPRA.