Business Portal of India : Consumer Rights and Welfare : Organizational Set Up : Central Level Department

At the central level, a separate Department of Consumer Affairs was created in the Central Government in the year 1997 to act as the nodal organisation for exclusive focus on protecting the rights of consumers including redressal of consumer grievances as well as to promote standards of goods and services, etc. Also functioning at the centre is the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) and a Consumer Protection Council.

Department of Consumer Affairs

The Department of Consumer Affairs under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is responsible for the formulation of policies for monitoring prices, availability of essential commodities, consumer movement in the country and controlling of statutory bodies like Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Weights and Measures. The department is broadly entrusted with the following work:

Internal Trade
Control of Futures Trading: the Forward Contracts (Regulation) Act. 1952 (74 of 1952).
The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955) (Supply, Prices and Distribution of Essential Commodities not dealt with specifically by any other Ministry/Department).
Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supply of Essential Commodities Act, 1980(7 of 1980). Persons subjected to detention thereunder.
Regulation of Packaged Commodities.
Training in legal Metrology.
Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1952 (12 of 1952).
Standards of Weights and Measures. The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 (60 of 1976) and Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act 1985.
Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 (63 of 1986).
Laying down specifications, standards and codes and ensuring quality control of bio-fuels for end uses.
Forward Markets Commission.
Consumer Cooperatives.
Monitoring of Prices and Availability of Essential Commodities.
National Test House.
Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (68 of 1986).

The department has initiated a number of steps to promote a responsible and responsive consumer movement in the country. Such measures include: use of multi-media for promoting consumer awareness and encouraging consumers' involvement through efforts of Government and non-Governmental organisations and others.