Explain the significance of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. How is it different from the 1986 Act?
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was enacted to provide more robust protection to consumers, addressing the growing complexity of the market, especially in e-commerce. The key features include the establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to regulate unfair trade practices, and the introduction of product liability—holding manufacturers accountable for defective products. The 2019 Act also enables the filing of complaints electronically and expands the jurisdiction of consumer courts, allowing consumers to file complaints at their place of residence rather than the seller’s location. This makes redressal mechanisms more accessible. Moreover, the 2019 Act includes provisions for mediation, providing an alternative dispute resolution mechanism that is quicker and less expensive compared to formal litigation, a feature absent in the 1986 Act.
Mrs. Mathur sent a jacket to a laundry shop in January 2018. The jacket was purchased at a price of ₹4,500. She had previously sent the jacket for dry cleaning with Shine Dry Cleaners and the jacket was cleaned well. However, she noticed that her jacket had white discoloration marks when she collected the jacket this time. On informing the dry cleaner, Mrs. Mathur received a letter confirming that discolouration indeed appeared after the jacket was dry cleaned. She contacted the dry cleaner multiple times and requested for compensation for discoloured jacket but to no avail.
Upon Consumer court’s intervention, Shine Dry Cleaners agreed to compensate ₹2,500 to Mrs. Mathur for the discoloured jacket.
a. Which right was exercised by Mrs. Mathur at the first instance.
b. Name and explain the right which helped Mrs. Mathur to avail the compensation.
c. State which consumer responsibility has been fulfilled by Mrs. Mathur in the above case.
d. State any other two responsibilities to be assumed by the consumers.
Under which consumer right does a business firm set up consumer grievance cell?
Explain the redressal mechanism available to consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) has made a proposal for hotels and other food outlets to declare the kind of oil/fat used in cooking each of the food items on their menus. Name and explain the Consumer Right being reinforced by this proposal.
Name the component of product mix that helps the consumer to exercise the right to information.
Who can file a complaint in a consumer court?
Which quality certification mark is used for agricultural products?
Enumerate the various Acts passed by the Government of India which help in protection of consumers’ interests.
State any two relief available to consumers under CPA.
Explain the role of consumer organisations and NGOs in protecting and promoting consumer’s interest.
How does planning provide direction?
What is meant by staffing?
Identify the network of social relationships which arises spontaneously due to interaction at work.
What is informal communication?
State the meaning of controlling.
What is meant by capital structure?v
What is meant by management?
What is a Treasury Bill?
State any two advantages of branding to marketers of goods and services?
What makes principles of management flexible?
How would you argue that the success of a business enterprise is significantly influenced by its environment?
A marketer of colour TV having 20% of the current market share of the country aims at enhancing the market share to 50 per cent in next three years. For achieving this objective he specified an action programme. Name the function of marketing being discussed above. (Ans. Marketing planning.)
Planning reduces creativity. Critically comment.(Hint: both the points - Planning promotes innovative ideas and planning reduces creativity – will be given).
What are industrial products? How are they different from consumer products? Explain.
Compare and contrast the principles of management by Fayol and Taylor.
Mr Shantanu is a chief manager of a reputed company that manufactures garments. He called the production manager and instructed him to keep a constant and continuous check on all the activities related to his department so that everything goes as per the set plan. He also suggested him to keep a track of the performance of all the employees in the organisation so that targets are achieved effectively and efficiently.
a. Describe any two features of Controlling highlighted in the above situation.(Goal Oriented, continuous and pervasive – any 2).
b. Explain any four points of importance of Controlling.
The quality of production is not as per standards. On investigation it was observed that most of the workers were not fully aware of the proper operation of the machinery. What could be the way to improve the quality of production to meet the standards? (training)
Can planning work in a changing environment? Give a reason to justify your answer.
Decentralisation is an optional policy. Explain why an organisation would choose to be decentralised.
(Further information related to the above question 6) The management of company Bhasin Limited now realised its folly. In order to rectify the situation it appointed a management consultant -Mukti Consultants - to recommend a restructure plan to bring the company back on the rails. Mukti Consultants undertook a study of the production process at the plant of the company Bhasin Limited and recommended the following changes —
• The company should introduce scientific management with regard to production.
• Production Planning including routing, scheduling, dispatching and feedback should be implemented.
• In order to separate planning from operational management ’Functional foremanship’ should be introduced.
• ‘Work study’ should be undertaken to optimise the use of resources.
• ‘Standardisation’ of all activities should be implemented to increase efficiency and accountability.
• To motivate the workers ‘Differential Piece Rate System’ should be implemented.
(The above changes should be introduced apart from the steps recommended as an answer to Part c - case problem 6 above.) It was expected that the changes will bring about a radical transformation in the working of the company and it will regain its pristine glory.
a. Do you think that introduction of scientific management as recommended by M consultants will result in intended outcome?
b. What precautions should the company undertake to implement the changes?
c. Give your answer with regard to each technique separately as enunciated in points 1 through 6 in the case problem.