Consumer protection is important due to widespread _______ of consumers about their rights and reliefs.

Ignorance

The correct answer is Option (2) - Ignorance.

In the light of widespread ignorance of consumers about their rights and reliefs available to them, it becomes necessary to educate them about the same so as to achieve consumer awareness. The need for consumer protection arises from the need to protect consumers from the loss or injury or other prevailing malpractices and to ensure:  Physical safety of a consumer,  Access to information, Corporate Social Responsibility to provide quality and quantity of goods at fair prices, Consumer satisfaction, Social justice and Trusteeship, Survival and the Growth of businesses.