• Mr. Madhava

ABSTRACT Consumers play a central role in the economy, driving demand for goods and services. They are vital to all business activities, as businesses rely on consumers to purchase their offerings. Mahatma Gandhi emphasized the importance of customers by stating that businesses depend on them, not the other way around. Despite this, consumers often face exploitation through practices like adulteration, underweight goods, inferior and duplicated products, inflated prices, and misleading advertisements. To combat this exploitation, consumer protection is crucial. The need for consumer protection stems from the exploitation and denial of consumer rights in the absence of safeguards. Higher consumer awareness can reduce societal exploitation. Consumer awareness involves understanding the need and priority of purchases, conditions and warranties, proper product usage, compensation details in case of defaults, and consumer rights and duties. Consumers must be vigilant and informed to protect themselves from malpractices by traders. The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 was enacted to safeguard consumers. However, even after 33 years, consumer protection remains inadequate in India. Despite various initiatives by central and state governments, there is still much to be achieved. A significant issue is the lack of awareness among consumers about their rights.

Key words: Consumer Rights, Consumer Awareness, Consumer Protection, Consumer Education.

"A STUDY ON AWARENESS ABOUT CONSUMER RIGHTS AND CONSUMER LAWS AMONG GENERAL PUBLIC IN BANTWAL TALUK OF DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT IN COASTAL KARNATAKA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.667-685, May 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905Y94.pdf

"A STUDY ON AWARENESS ABOUT CONSUMER RIGHTS AND CONSUMER LAWS AMONG GENERAL PUBLIC IN BANTWAL TALUK OF DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT IN COASTAL KARNATAKA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp667-685, May 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905Y94.pdf