Central Consumer Protection Authority Intensifies Crackdown on Misleading Advertisements and Non-Compliant Walk-and-Talkie Sales Imposing Penalties
Distilled Policy Brief
- Final orders were issued against 12 companies with a total penalty of 58 lakh rupees imposed for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices concerning walkie-talkies under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, to regulate matters relating to violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and misleading advertisements.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Examine the role of the Central Consumer Protection Authority in curbing misleading advertisements and regulating non-compliant electronic listings on e-commerce platforms, highlighting regulatory compliance challenges.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and recent actions regarding the sale of walkie-talkies under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, consider the following statements: 1. The CCPA has the authority to penalize entities for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices that omit crucial regulatory information such as operating frequency and licensing requirements. 2. Under the relevant rules, all personal mobile radios operating across any frequency range are completely exempted from obtaining a license without any conditions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statement 1 is correct because the CCPA issued final orders and imposed penalties under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, against entities for concealing necessary regulatory information like operating frequency and license requirements in walkie-talkie advertisements. Statement 2 is incorrect because only personal mobile radios operating within the specific prescribed frequency range of 446.0–446.2 MHz are exempted from license requirements under specific conditions, while equipment outside this range is subject to respective regulatory rules.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.