Question

Explain COPRA.

Answer 1

The Indian government passed the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) in 1986 to safeguard consumer rights and establish a legal framework for resolving consumer complaints. Its main goal is to prevent unfair trade practices, subpar products, and subpar services from exploiting consumers.

The Act established a three-tier system for resolving consumer complaints:

1. District Forum: Handles cases involving claims up to ₹ 20 lakhs.
2. State Consumer Commission: Handles cases involving claims between ₹ 20 lakhs and ₹ 1 crore.
3. National Consumer Commission: Handles cases involving claims exceeding ₹ 1 crore.

COPRA empowers consumers to file complaints easily and ensures that they can seek compensation, refunds, or replacements for defective goods or services. This system provides consumers with a fair and accessible platform to protect their rights.