Consumer organisations and NGOs perform several functions for the pro…

Consumer organisations and NGOs perform several functions for the protection and promotion of the interests of consumers. Identify which of the following is not a function performed by them:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Encouraging consumers to strongly protest and take action against scrupulous, exploitative and unfair trade practices of sellers.

Consumer organisations and NGOs are non-profit bodies, free from government control, that work to protect consumers. They perform seven functions, from educating consumers to filing cases on their behalf.

Option (1) Publishing periodicals and other publications to impart knowledge about consumer problems. — A function of these organisations (Incorrect). Through their magazines and reports they tell consumers about common problems, court decisions and the reliefs they can claim.
Option (2) Encouraging consumers to strongly protest and take action against scrupulous, exploitative and unfair trade practices of sellers. — Not a function of these organisations (Correct). One word decides it. A scrupulous practice is an honest one: the seller is careful to do what is right. Nobody needs to protest against honest dealing. The real function is to encourage protest against unscrupulous practices, which are dishonest ones such as adulteration, false advertising and hoarding. NTA has lifted the line from the book word for word and quietly dropped two letters, “un”. Two letters gone, and the meaning flips completely. Read every word of every option.
Option (3) Filing complaints in appropriate consumer courts on behalf of the consumers. — A function of these organisations (Incorrect). Many consumers cannot take a case to a commission on their own, so these organisations file the complaint for them.
Option (4) Taking an initiative in filing cases in consumer courts in the interest of the general public. — A function of these organisations (Incorrect). They also bring cases that protect the public as a whole, not just one person.

NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Role of Consumer Organisations And Ngos … Consumer organisations and NGOs perform several functions for the protection and promotion of interest of consumers. These include:
(i) Educating the general public about consumer rights by organising training programmes, seminars and workshops.
(ii) Publishing periodicals and other publications to impart knowledge about consumer problems, legal reporting, reliefs available and other matters of interest.
(iii) Carrying out comparative testing of consumer products in accredited laboratories to test relative qualities of competing brands and publishing the test results for the benefit of consumers.
(iv) Encouraging consumers to strongly protest and take an action against unscrupulous, exploitative and unfair trade practices of sellers.
(v) Providing legal assistance to consumers by way of providing aid, legal advice etc. in seeking legal remedy.
(vi) Filing complaints in appropriate consumer courts on behalf of the consumers.
(vii) Taking an initiative in filing cases in consumer courts in the interest of the general public, not for any individual.”

Consumer organisations and NGOs perform several functions for the protection and promotion of the interests of consumers. Identify which of the following is not a function performed by them:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Encouraging consumers to strongly protest and take action against scrupulous, exploitative and unfair trade practices of sellers.

Option (1) Publishing periodicals and other publications to impart knowledge about consumer problems. — A function of these organisations (Incorrect). Through their magazines and reports they tell consumers about common problems, court decisions and the reliefs they can claim.
Option (2) Encouraging consumers to strongly protest and take action against scrupulous, exploitative and unfair trade practices of sellers. — Not a function of these organisations (Correct). One word decides it. A scrupulous practice is an honest one: the seller is careful to do what is right. Nobody needs to protest against honest dealing. The real function is to encourage protest against unscrupulous practices, which are dishonest ones such as adulteration, false advertising and hoarding. NTA has lifted the line from the book word for word and quietly dropped two letters, “un”. Two letters gone, and the meaning flips completely. Read every word of every option.
Option (3) Filing complaints in appropriate consumer courts on behalf of the consumers. — A function of these organisations (Incorrect). Many consumers cannot take a case to a commission on their own, so these organisations file the complaint for them.
Option (4) Taking an initiative in filing cases in consumer courts in the interest of the general public. — A function of these organisations (Incorrect). They also bring cases that protect the public as a whole, not just one person.