2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 102: Polity and Governance

With reference to the Consumer Disputes Redressal at district level in India, which one of the following statements is not correct ?

aA State Government can establish more than one District Forum in a district if it deems fit
bOne of the members of the District Forum shall be a woman
cThe District Forum entertains the complaints where the value of goods or services does not exceed rupees fifty lakhs
dA complaint in relation to any goods sold or any service provided may be filed with a District Forum by the State Government as a representative of the interests of the consumers in general

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 as it stood in 2010, the District Forum could hear complaints where the value of the goods or services and the compensation claimed did not exceed Rs 20 lakh, not Rs 50 lakh. The other statements are correct: a State may set up more than one District Forum in a district, one member of a District Forum must be a woman, and the Central or State Government can file a complaint in the interest of consumers generally. Remember: in 2010 the limits were district up to Rs 20 lakh, state up to Rs 1 crore, national above that.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Correct: more than one District Forum can be set up in a district.
  • (b) Correct: one member must be a woman.
  • (c) Right (the incorrect statement): the limit then was Rs 20 lakh, not Rs 50 lakh.
  • (d) Correct: a government can file a complaint for consumers in general.

Worth knowing: The 1986 Act has been replaced by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which renamed District Forums as District Commissions and changed the money limits.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.