Protecting the interests of consumers has been one of the major concerns of the Government. Several policies and legislations have been in place in order to promote the concerns of the consumers and grant them the rights of choice, safety, information and redressal. Accordingly, there is a well placed organisational set up both at the Central and State level in the form of a separate department.

Department of Consumer Affairs under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is the nodal organisation set up for the protection of rights of consumers, redressal of consumer grievances and promotion of standards of goods and services, etc.

There is a three-tier quasi-judicial consumer disputes redressal machinery at the National, State and District levels, for expeditious and inexpensive settlement of consumer disputes. It includes National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC),State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions and District Forum.

Also established are Consumer Protection Councils at the Central, State and District levels for the purpose of spreading consumer awareness. It includes Central Consumer Protection Council, State Consumer Protection Council and District Consumer Protection Council.

Besides, the State Governments have set up a separate department which deals with all issues relating to consumer affairs.