Women Empowerment Committee
- Context : Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has constituted the ‘Women Empowerment Committee’. Dr. Takkupati Purandeswari has been appointed as the Chairperson of this Committee.
About Women Empowerment Committee
- The ‘Women Empowerment Committee’ was first constituted on 29 April 1997 during the tenure of the 11th Lok Sabha.
- Membership
- The Committee has a total of 30 members; 20 members are appointed from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha.
- The term of office of the Committee shall not exceed one year; the Committee is reconstituted every year.
- Functions of the Committee
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- To consider the reports submitted by the National Commission for Women, to report on the steps to be taken by the Union Government to improve the status and livelihood of women in matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Union Government (including the administration of Union Territories).
- To examine the steps taken by the Union Government to ensure equality, due status and dignity of women in all fields.
- To examine the steps taken by the Union Government to provide full education to women and to provide them with adequate representation in legislative bodies, government services and other sectors.
- To report on the functioning of welfare schemes for women
- To report on the action taken by the Union Government and the administrations of the Union Territories on the measures recommended by the Committee.
- To examine such other matters as the Committee may consider appropriate, or such other matters as may be specially referred to it by the Lok Sabha/Speaker and the Rajya Sabha/Chairman of the State Houses of Parliament for its consideration.
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
- Context : The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed fines on coaching institutes for false advertisements and unfair trade practices.
- The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh against Motion Education Private Limited and ₹5 lakh against Career Line Coaching (CLC) in Sikar for violating consumer rights under the False Advertisements, Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and issued final orders.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019
- The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is a modern and comprehensive law introduced to protect the interests of consumers in the rapidly growing digital and service-oriented economy, prevent unfair trade practices and ensure speedy redressal of consumer complaints.
- The Act replaced the erstwhile Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
Objectives of the Act
- To protect consumers against misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, and defective goods or services.
- To create effective enforcement mechanisms and ensure accountability and responsibility among manufacturers, sellers, service providers and advertisers.
Key Features of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019
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- Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): To protect the interests of consumers, the Act establishes the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).
- The Authority has the power to investigate unfair trade practices, impose penalties, and order the withdrawal or cessation of misleading advertisements.
- False Advertisement – Definition under Section 2(28)
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- Product Liability Rules
- The Act formally recognises six key consumer rights, including:
- Right to protection, Right to information, Right to choose, Right to be heard, Right to seek redress, Right to consumer awareness
- Regulation of e-commerce
- Facilitation of consumer grievance redress
