question_answer 1)

What factors gave birth to the consumer movement in India? Trace its evolution.  

Answer:

There were many factors that gave birth to the consumer movement in India. It started as a social force with the need to protect the consumers against unfair and unethical trade practices being followed by many retailers and manufacturers. These included creating artificial shortages, hoarding cereals and other agricultural products, black marketing of goods and adulteration of cooking oils and food items. Till 1986, consumer organizations were highlighting issues by writing articles in newspapers and magazines about these bad practices of merchants.   But nowadays, as the consumers have become more aware, the numbers of consumer groups have grown who have highlighted these malpractices. In 1986, the Government of India enacted the Consumer Protection Act, also known as COPRA. This was a major step in the consumer movement in India.