"The consumer has the freedom to access a variety of products at competitive prices. This implies that the marketers should offer a wide variety of products in terms of quality, brand, prices, size, etc. and allow the consumer to make a choice from amongst these". The right of a consumer being explained in the statement is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Right to be assured
Option (1) Right to be heard — Incorrect. This is the consumer’s right to file a complaint and to be heard when unhappy with a good or a service.
Option (2) Right to be assured — Correct. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the right to be assured gives the consumer the freedom to access a variety of products at competitive prices. Marketers should offer a wide range in quality, brand, price and size, and then let the consumer choose. The statement in the question is the book’s own description of this right.
Option (3) Right to make choice — Incorrect. Under the old Consumer Protection Act, 1986, this same freedom was called the Right to Choose. The Act of 2019 renamed it the Right to be assured, and the current book (2026-27) uses the new name.
Option (4) Right to be informed — Incorrect. This right is about complete information on the product: its ingredients, date of manufacture, price, quantity and directions for use.
Note: The pre-rationalised NCERT gives this description under “Right to Choose”, following the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The 2023-24 book and the current NCERT book (2026-27) follow the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and give the same description under “Right to be assured”. The summary at the end of the chapter in both these books, however, still lists “Right to choose” under the 1986 Act, which appears to be an error made while revising the books after rationalisation.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “3. Right to be assured: The consumer has the freedom to access variety of products at competitive prices. This implies that the marketers should offer a wide variety of products in terms of quality, brand, prices, size, etc. and allow the consumer to make a choice from amongst these.” “SUMMARY … Consumer Rights: The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, provides for six consumer rights. These are: (i) Right to safety, (ii) Right to be informed, (iii) Right to choose, (iv) Right to be heard, (v) Right to seek redressal,(vi) Right to consumer education.” |