India will chair the Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection Law and Policy, organised by the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 6 to 8. The session will bring together member states, international organisations, consumer protection authorities, academia and other stakeholders to discuss emerging issues in consumer protection law and policy.
The Intergovernmental Group of Experts, constituted under the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP), serves as the principal intergovernmental platform for international cooperation and dialogue on consumer protection law and policy.
India will be represented by Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Nidhi Khare, who has been invited by UNCTAD to chair the three-day session. As Chairperson, she will preside over the deliberations and guide discussions among member states on key global priorities in consumer protection.
One of the major highlights of the session will be the launch of the United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025. India will also participate in a high-level fireside chat titled “Why the Principles Matter”, focusing on the significance of the newly adopted global framework.
The meeting will feature discussions on the implementation of the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection by member states, consumer information and education, sustainable consumption, enforcement of consumer protection laws in global markets, and strengthening cross-border consumer protection mechanisms. Delegates will also undertake a voluntary peer review of Argentina’s consumer protection law and policy, besides reviewing recent legal and institutional developments, capacity-building initiatives, and adopting the report and provisional agenda for the next session.
India has been actively contributing to global discussions on consumer protection. During the Ninth United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection held in Geneva in July 2025, the Department of Consumer Affairs showcased India’s experience in resolving cross-border consumer disputes through the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and its pre-litigation convergence model.
The government highlighted that the National Consumer Helpline has facilitated refunds worth more than ₹91.77 crore across 36 sectors over the past 14 months by resolving more than 1.47 lakh refund-related grievances before they reached litigation.
India has also strengthened its consumer grievance redressal system through e-Jagriti, an AI-enabled digital platform that allows consumers to file complaints online, participate in virtual hearings, manage cases electronically and access proceedings digitally. The platform also enables Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and consumers residing abroad to pursue consumer complaints online, supporting cross-border consumer dispute resolution.
According to the Department of Consumer Affairs, India’s appointment to chair the Ninth Session reflects the country’s growing role in advancing international cooperation on consumer protection and its continued efforts to promote effective, technology-driven and consumer-centric protection frameworks at the global level.
