The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, has released its year-end review, spotlighting significant initiatives and accomplishments in 2024 aimed at stabilizing prices, enhancing consumer welfare, and leveraging technology for improved services.
Price Monitoring and Stabilization
The Price Monitoring Division (PMD) of the Department played a crucial role in controlling the prices of essential commodities like onions, tomatoes, and pulses.
Through daily price tracking and the strategic use of buffer stocks, the government managed price volatility.
The Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF), with a budget allocation of Rs.10,000 crore for 2024-25, enabled timely market interventions, including the sale of Bharat Dal at affordable prices.
Launch of Bharat Dal
The government introduced Bharat Dal in 2024, selling Chana, Moong, and Masur dal through retail outlets such as NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar, and online platforms.
Priced competitively, Bharat Dal was aimed at making pulses affordable for the common man, with Chana Dal available at Rs. 70 per kg.
Consumer Protection and Legal Metrology
The department saw the implementation of important legal measures under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. This included the launch of 570 Mediation Cells across the country to speed up consumer dispute resolutions.
Additionally, the “E-Daakhil” portal was expanded nationwide, enabling consumers to file complaints online.
Legal Metrology services were enhanced with the creation of a National Legal Metrology Portal for streamlined approvals, licensing, and enforcement activities.
The department also implemented new rules, mandating the declaration of the unit sale price and country of origin for goods sold online, increasing transparency for consumers.
National Consumer Helpline Expansion
The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) saw a tenfold increase in the number of calls, reflecting growing consumer confidence.
Offering services in 17 languages, the helpline introduced AI-based speech recognition and a multilingual chatbot under the NCH 2.0 initiative to assist consumers more efficiently.
National Test House (NTH) Expansion
The National Test House (NTH) made significant strides in testing and certification services, establishing advanced testing facilities for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and expanding fertilizer testing capabilities.
The department also worked on setting up a comprehensive solar panel testing laboratory and introduced drone certification services.
Boosting Consumer Welfare
The Consumer Welfare Fund continued to support initiatives across states, with over ₹32 crore allocated in 2024-25. Twenty-four states and one union territory now have established Consumer Welfare Corpus Funds, aimed at protecting and promoting consumer rights.
Technological Advancements
BIS, the Bureau of Indian Standards, reported significant progress in modernizing its laboratories.
The integration of the Laboratory Information Management Software (LIMS) has enhanced transparency and efficiency in product testing.
In 2024, BIS granted 6,451 new product licenses, including 77 new product categories, further boosting consumer trust.
