+918130009809 (charges apply) mentioning the name and city. A consumer can call to seek
information, advice or guidance for his queries and complaints.
Consumer Grievance Redress
Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, a three-tier quasi-judicial mechanism has been
set up in the country to adjudicate complaints filed before them and to provide speedy redress to
consumers. This includes the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (National
Commission) at the apex level with territorial jurisdiction over the whole country and pecuniary
jurisdiction to consider consumer disputes/complaints involving claims above ₹ 1.00 crore and
with appellate jurisdiction over state/commissions; 35 state consumer disputes redressal
commissions (state commissions) with territorial jurisdiction over the state/ UT concerned and
financial jurisdiction to entertain consumer complaints involving claims above ₹ 20.00 lakh and
up to ₹ 1.00 crore and with appellate jurisdiction over the district fora and 679 District Consumer
Disputes Redressal Fora (district forum) with territorial jurisdiction over the district and
pecuniary jurisdiction up to ₹ 20.00 lakh.
National Test House
The National Test House (NTH) is a premier test and quality evaluation laboratory for
industrial, engineering and consumer products under the administrative control of the
Government of India since the year 1912. This century old scientific and technological
organization was established originally by the Indian Railway Board as a captive test and quality
evaluation laboratory (originally known as Government Test House) at Alipore, Kolkata with a
view to examine the quality of the various products meant to be used by the Indian Railways.
The first regional laboratory was set up by NTH in Mumbai in 1963 and subsequently at Chennai
(1975), Ghaziabad (1977), Jaipur (1994) and Guwahati (1996). The National Test House works
in the field of testing, evaluation and quality control of various engineering materials and
finished products, calibration of measuring equipment/ instruments and devices. To be precise,
the NTH issues test certificates in scientific and engineering fields to certify conformity to
national/international specifications or customer standard specifications.
Price Monitoring
The DCA operates a Price Monitoring Cell (PMC) tasked with monitoring prices of select
essential commodities. The monitoring is done in respect of both retail and wholesale prices on a
daily basis. The Cell monitors the prices of 22 essential commodities, which include cereals,
pulses, vegetables, edible oils, sugar, milk, etc., collected form 71 reporting centres across the
country through the Civil Supplies Department of states/UTs. These daily commodity prices are
available on the Departmental website (www.fea.min.nic.in) and are updated regularly.
The prevailing price situation as well as the other factors that impact prices, both in the
domestic and the international markets are analyzed and brought to the notice of the
interministerial consultation mechanism for appropriate policy action. Based on the analysis of
price data received, specific interventions are undertaken including allowing import of various
items of mass consumption at zero or concessional import duties; restriction on exports, when
necessary; prescribing stock holding limits under Essential Commodities Act; and allocation of
foodgrains at affordable prices under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). The DCA
is working on increasing the number of reporting centres from 71 at present to 100 in a phased
manner, enhancing coordination with states/ UTs to make price monitoring more effective,