🏛️ SC Wants Permanent Consumer Redressal Bodies – Explained Simply

Source:-BS

📰 Why in News?

Supreme Court (SC) told the Central Government to make permanent bodies to solve consumer disputes.
SC said that consumer rights are important and constitutional, so we need a strong and stable system to protect them.
Right now, there's many problems in applying the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), 1986 and 2019 properly.

❓ Why Need for Permanent Consumer Dispute Resolution Bodies?

Temporary Appointments = Delay
– SC said that temporary judges in consumer forums cause delays and less efficiency.
– Full-time, permanent staff and judges, maybe from regular courts, can bring professionalism and faster justice.
Too Many Pending Cases
– As per National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), around 5.5 lakh cases were pending in 2023.
– Lack of staff, vacant posts, and poor digital system makes things worse.
Digital Era = New Problems
– By 2026, India’s e-commerce market will be around $200 billion.
– With this, complaints are rising – fake products, frauds, data theft, cross-border disputes.
– Current system not ready for these digital issues – need experts in tech and modern laws.

📜 Constitutional & Legal Support for Consumer Rights

Consumer Right = Basic Right
– Consumers have right to get correct info, fair prices, and safety from bad products/services.
Support from Constitution – DPSPs
– Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) supports consumer protection.
– Article 37: DPSPs are not law, but Govt. must follow them in law-making.
– Article 47: Govt. must improve health and stop harmful things (like unsafe goods).

⚖️ Laws That Protect Consumers

1. Consumer Protection Act, 1986

Gave 6 basic rights:
1. Right to Safety
2. Right to Be Informed
3. Right to Choose
4. Right to Be Heard
5. Right to Seek Redressal
6. Right to Consumer Education
Helped with fake ads, harmful products.
But didn’t cover online shopping, contracts, or product liability.

2. Consumer Protection Act, 2019

Replaced the 1986 Act.
Added:
- E-commerce and digital complaints.
- Product liability (blaming company if product harms).
- Unfair contracts (one-sided rules).
- Made Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to protect consumer rights.
- Set up mediation cells and online complaint system.

3. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, 2016

Ensures product quality & safety.
Gives power to recall bad products.

4. Legal Metrology Act, 2009

Makes sure weights and measures are accurate in shops.
Avoids cheating in quantity/price.

💡 Other Government Initiatives

DoCA Guidelines on Dark Patterns (2023)
– To stop fake urgency, drip pricing, etc. in online shopping.
Jago Grahak Jago Campaign
– Ads to make public aware of consumer rights.
E-Jagriti Portal
– AI-powered system to help with online case filing & tracking.
E-Dakhil Portal
– Online complaint system for consumers.
National Consumer Helpline (1915)
– Call support in 17 languages for complaints.
National Consumer Day – 24 December
– To remember the CPA, 1986.
GRAI Index
– Ranks ministries based on how well they handle consumer complaints using CPGRAMS data.

🎯 Consumer Rights (CPA 1986) – Simple Table

Right	Meaning
Right to Safety	Protection from harmful goods/services
Right to be Informed	Accurate product info (price, quality)
Right to Choose	Access to options in fair prices
Right to be Heard	Right to express grievance
Right to Redressal	Right to get help and justice
Right to Education	Right to know about your rights

⚠️ Challenges and Suggestions

Problem	Solution
People don't know their rights	Add consumer rights in school books, continue Jago Grahak Jago
Hard to file complaints	Make process easy with fewer documents
Product liability not enforced properly	Train officers, follow clear guidelines
Too many different platforms to complain	Combine platforms, make grievance cells in rural panchayats
No experts in consumer bodies	Hire experts in tech and law
Very less staff and funds	Govt should give more money and make permanent consumer courts
Courts are too slow	Promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) like arbitration, as per T.K. Viswanathan Committee (2024)

✅ Conclusion

Consumer rights are not just laws—they are moral and constitutional duties of the government.
We need a strong, permanent system to solve complaints faster, especially in this new digital and online shopping age.
Better courts, trained officers, public awareness, and strong online systems will make sure consumers don’t get cheated.

🌿 PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Promoting Electric Vehicles:-

Source:-PIB

🚨 Why in News?

The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) launched a new scheme called PM E-DRIVE to push the use of electric buses in big cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. This is a big step to make our urban transport clean and sustainable.

⚡ What is PM E-DRIVE Scheme?

Full Form:
PM E-DRIVE means Prime Minister Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement.
Time Period:
Active from October 2024 to March 2026.
Budget Outlay:
The govt has approved a fund of ₹10,900 crore for this scheme.
Main Aim:
- Promote electric vehicles (EVs).
- Build EV charging stations across India.
- Support EV manufacturing in India under Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
Builds on Past Schemes:
PM E-DRIVE is like the next version of earlier schemes like:
- FAME-I (2015)
- FAME-II (2019)

🚘 Who Will Get the Benefit?

Target Vehicles:
- Electric 2-wheelers (like e-bikes, e-scooters).
- Electric 3-wheelers (like e-rickshaws).
- Electric buses (for city use).
- e-Ambulances and e-Trucks (with valid scrapping certificates).

💰 Demand Incentives

The govt will give subsidy/incentives for buying EVs:
- Max cap of 15% of factory price OR
- A fixed amount per vehicle, whichever is lower.
- Only EVs below a price limit will get this benefit.

🔌 Charging Stations

Charging Infrastructure:
- Govt will set up 72,300 fast chargers across cities and highways.
- These will help solve the “where do I charge” problem.
Digital Super App:
- BHEL (a govt company) will make an app.
- You can use it to find chargers, book time slots, pay online, etc.

🧪 Testing and Quality

Testing Upgradation:

₹780 crore is given to upgrade testing labs for EVs.
These labs will make sure EVs are safe and meet rules.

✅ Eligibility Rules

Only advanced battery EVs can apply.
Govt-owned EVs not allowed (to avoid misuse of govt funds).
Vehicle must be registered under CMVR, 1989.
EVs must be made and registered within scheme period (Oct 2024 - Mar 2026).

📈 EV Sales Boom

Under schemes like EMPS & E-DRIVE, sales of e-2Ws reached 5.7 lakh units in 2024-25. That’s a huge growth!

🌍 Link to India’s Green Goals

India has a net-zero carbon goal by 2070.
Schemes like this support clean transport, less pollution, and green cities.

💚 Green Hydrogen and India’s Plans:-

Source:-PIB

🌐 Why in News?

India unveiled its ambitious intentions to lead the world in green hydrogen production at the World Hydrogen Summit 2025 in the Netherlands.

💧 What is Green Hydrogen?

Definition:
Green hydrogen is produced by using solar or wind power to split water (H2O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen.
Cleaner Option:
Unlike grey hydrogen, green hydrogen doesn’t cause pollution. It is eco-friendly.

🚆 Where is Green Hydrogen Used?

It can be used in:
- Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)
- Factories (like fertilizer, steel, refineries)
- Rail and road transport

🇮🇳 India’s Green Hydrogen Initiatives

National Green Hydrogen Mission:
- Goal: Produce 5 million tonnes/year by 2030.
- Divided into 2 Phases:
  - Phase 1: 2022-23 to 2025-26
  - Phase 2: 2026-27 to 2029-30
Certification Scheme (GHCI):
- It checks and certifies that the hydrogen is really “green”.
- Verified by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
Environmental Clearance Relaxed:
- GH2 and green ammonia plants don’t need Environmental Clearance. This saves time and paperwork.
Green Hydrogen Hubs:
- 3 Ports selected:
  - Kandla (Gujarat)
  - Paradip (Odisha)
  - Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu)
Global Partnerships:
- India has tie-ups with Japan, Australia, and UAE for technology and investment in green hydrogen.

⚛️ What is Hydrogen?

Basics:
- Hydrogen is the lightest element.
- It's colorless, odourless, flammable gas.
- Doesn’t harm environment if used right.
Why It Matters for India:

Reduce our oil import bill (energy independence).
Help farmers earn extra if we produce it from waste biomass.
Help in creating clean jobs.

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