Datanomics: From checkout to courtroom as consumer rights take centre stage

Rising e-commerce grievances and persistent food adulteration highlight evolving consumer protection challenges in India

The World Consumer Rights Day, observed annually on March 15, highlights the need to uphold consumer rights and protection. This year’s theme — “Safe Products, Confident Consumers” — focuses on strengthening product safety and consumer empowerment. 

Grappling with grievances 

The number of consumer cases filed fell 33 per cent during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020; however, it rose steadily in 2021 and 2022, before dipping in 2023. The case filings edged up again in 2024.  

 

Most complaints filed against ecommerce  

The share of consumer complaints against ecommerce has tripled — from one in 10 in 2015 to nearly one in three by 2024. 

 

1 in 5 food samples fails quality test   Of the 1.3 mn food samples tested during FY15-25, 0.3 mn were found to be adulterated. 

 

North dominates 

North Indian states have consistently led consumer complaint filings since 2021.