2012 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I

Question 8: Polity and Governance

With reference to consumers' rights/privileges under the provisions of law in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. 1.Consumers are empowered to take samples for food testing.
  2. 2.When a consumer files a complaint in any consumer forum, no fee is required to be paid.
  3. 3.In case of death of a consumer, his/her legal heir can file a complaint in the consumer forum on his/her behalf.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

a1 only
b2 and 3 only
c1 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

A consumer, or a recognised consumer association, can get a food sample analysed by the public analyst under the food laws. If a consumer dies, the legal heir can file the complaint on his or her behalf. But filing a complaint was not free: a fee had to be paid (nominal for small claims) when this question was set, so 'no fee is required' was wrong.

  • 1. A purchaser or consumer association can have a food sample analysed by a public analyst.
  • 2. A fee, nominal for small claims, was payable when filing a complaint.
  • 3. A deceased consumer's legal heir can file the complaint.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 2.

    What you needed to know: A fee, nominal for small claims, was payable when filing a complaint.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 3 out.

    What you needed to know: A deceased consumer's legal heir can file the complaint.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Incomplete: the legal heir's right to file a complaint is also valid.
  • (b) Wrong: it includes statement 2, but a complaint fee was payable.
  • (c) Correct: statements 1 and 3 hold; statement 2 is false.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 2 is false because a nominal fee had to be paid.

Worth knowing: Under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 and its rules, no fee is charged for claims up to Rs 5 lakh, though larger claims still pay a fee, so statement 2 is now only partly wrong.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.