CONSUMER PROTECTION

A Datum Intelligence study finds hidden charges and deceptive checkout practices are eroding consumer trust and putting more than Rs 55,000 crore in e-commerce spending at risk

Indian consumers are losing an estimated Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 28,000 crore annually due to deceptive interface designs, commonly known as dark patterns, across online marketplaces, according to a report. The 'Dark Patterns in India's Online Marketplaces' report, released by market research firm Datum Intelligence on Tuesday, said 88 per cent of the country's 304 million online buyers lose approximately Rs 78 to Rs 87 per month each to hidden charges, forced add-ons, drip pricing, false urgency rules and subscription traps. "Existing regulatory interventions have so far had limited success in curbing deceptive digital practices that continue to impact millions of consumers," the report noted. The survey found that 63 per cent of online payment users now experience hidden charges or drip pricing-where additional fees are revealed at the checkout stage. This marks an increase from the 52 per cent reported in 2024. Furthermore, 73 per cent of the platforms assessed deploy forced actio

The Consumer Affairs Ministry is planning to develop machine-readable, SMART standards using artificial intelligence tools to reduce compliance burden on industry, a senior official said on Thursday. Machine-readable standards translate regulatory requirements into structured digital rules that computer systems can process directly, enabling automatic compliance verification without manual intervention. SMART (Standard Machine Accessible, Readable and Transferable) formats go a step further by being dynamic, constantly updated and integrated into software and manufacturing lifecycles. Addressing a FICCI-organised event here, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the department was looking at ways to leverage emerging technologies, particularly AI, to modernise the country's standards ecosystem. "We also understand that the emerging technologies which are coming up in a big way, especially the AI, it may be creating a lot of disruption, and it could be creating more challenges

The government is preparing to introduce norms to standardize edible oil pack sizes, a move industry executives say could improve price transparency for consumers and create a more level playing field for manufacturers. The proposed measure is expected to address the growing prevalence of non-standard pack sizes, including 850 ml, 875 ml, 900 ml and 950 ml packs, which industry participants say can make it difficult for consumers to compare prices across brands and assess the true cost of products on a per-litre basis. The initiative comes amid a broader regulatory focus on consumer protection, transparent labelling and sustainable packaging practices. "We are pleased to note that the Government of India has taken cognizance of this important issue and is moving towards addressing non-standardized edible oil pack sizes," said Vivek Puri, Managing Director of Puri Oil Mills Ltd., promoter of the P Mark mustard oil brand. "For several years, we have consistently highlighted that ...

The complainant pointed out that the insurer had produced no medical record to substantiate the claim that diabetes was pre-existing

The National Commission concluded that the collapse of the building could not be attributed to an insured risk: heavy rain, flood, inundation, storm, and so on

Seldom do courts take cognizance of Section 9 of the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, which says that if a mortgage is created, it shall not affect the buyer's rights

The National Commission cited the Supreme Court's observation that in appropriate cases the consumer forum has the authority to decide whether the terms of an agreement are valid

The National Commission noted that the government notification did not confer any right on the bank to refuse acceptance of deposits; it could only refer them for scrutiny

Consumer Justice Report flags empty benches, rising pendency and falling efficiency, as vacancies and delays weaken justice delivery and erode consumer confidence

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

The Karnataka State Commission questioned why bank had failed to close the card in 2010, and had raised a demand after seven years

NCDRC directs National Insurance to settle sabotage claim, holding delay in FIR not fatal and inferring malicious damage on balance of probabilities

A recent Supreme Court ruling reinforces that developers and service providers must prove profit-first motive before denying consumer status

Vamanan attributed the medical problem solely to the consumption of those dates, as this was the only "outside food" he had consumed

The Chandigarh State Commission noted that obtaining both certificates - completion and occupation - is a must to make possession offer legally valid

The National Commission rejected the builder's defence that promises made in the brochure were unenforceable as they had not been incorporated in the agreement of sale

The Medical Council had exonerated Dr Agarwal of negligence. But the Consumer Commission held him guilty because he was an allopathic doctor who had prescribed an ayurvedic drug

Section 4(10) of the Consumer Protection (ECommerce) Rules, 2020, casts an obligation on the e-commerce service provider to provide a replacement or refund in case of deficiency in service

Forced cancellations, hidden fees and manipulative prompts plague users as survey shows eight in ten riders report deceptive design practices