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Here is a list of the Acts that are passed by the Government of India in order to protect consumer interests:
1. CPA or Consumer Protection Act, 1986: This act provides protection to the consumers against different forms of exploitation such as unfair trade practices, deficiency in services or defective goods. As per this act there is a three-level redressal mechanism to address all consumer complaints. These levels are i) District forum, ii) State Commission and iii) National Commission.
2. The Contract Act, 1982: Under this act, the conditions on the basis of which promises in a contract are made binding are defined. Also, the act provides solutions in case there is a breach of the contract.
3. The Agriculture Produce or Grading and Marking Act, 1937: This act defines standards for livestock and agricultural commodities. It provides procedure for packing, grading and marking of the agricultural products. The quality certification that is provided by the Act is known as AGMARK.
4. The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976: This act helps in safeguarding of the interests of the consumers for practices which are related to the goods that are under-measure and under-weight.
5. The Sale of Goods Act, 1930: It provides protection to the consumers in case the product or good purchased by them is not abiding by the warranties and conditions that are associated with the good or product.
6. The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954: This act is used for checking and preventing food adulteration and thereby maintaining purity of the product.
7. The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986: As per this act, BIS or Bureau of Indian Standards are established for formulating the standards of goods quality and provide certification of quality for those products as per BIS certification scheme. The quality certification provided is known as ISI mark. It also addresses the redressal of complaints regarding product quality.
8. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955: As per this act, it provides for any type of control in production, distribution and supply of the essential goods. It also tracks the black marketing and ensures quality in product distribution.
9. The Competition Act, 2002: This act prevents any such practice by the business firms which will delay the competition of the market.
10. The Trade Marks Act, 1999: This act is formed for checking the use of false marks on the consumer goods and subsequently protecting consumers against use of such goods.