STRENGTHENING THE CONSUMER PROTECTION REGIME IN INDIA: ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF CENTRAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AUTHORITY (CCPA)

AUTHOR – RAJVARDHAN RAJPUT* & DR. SHOVA DEVI**

* LL.M (BUSINESS LAW) AT AMITY LAW SCHOOL, AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH LUCKNOW CAMPUS

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT AMITY LAW SCHOOL, AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH LUCKNOW CAMPUS

BEST CITATION – RAJVARDHAN RAJPUT & DR. SHOVA DEVI, STRENGTHENING THE CONSUMER PROTECTION REGIME IN INDIA: ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF CENTRAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AUTHORITY (CCPA), INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (8) OF 2025, PG. 592-602, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

The landscape of consumer protection in India has undergone a significant transformation with the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which seeks to strengthen the consumer grievance redressal mechanism through the establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the role, structure, and functioning of the CCPA, highlighting its mandate to protect, promote, and enforce the rights of consumers against unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, and defective products or services.

The study begins with a historical overview of consumer protection in India, examining the limitations of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which prompted the legislative overhaul. It then delves into the structural and legal foundations of the CCPA, detailing its investigative powers, regulatory authority, and ability to take suo motu cognizance of consumer rights violations. The paper further analyzes major initiatives undertaken by the CCPA, including the formulation of guidelines on e-commerce, product recalls, and actions against misleading advertisements.

Through judicial and policy-based insights, the paper also examines the synergy and occasional overlap between the CCPA and other regulatory bodies such as FSSAI, ASCI, and TRAI. In addition to highlighting key enforcement challenges—such as manpower limitations, jurisdictional conflicts, and lack of consumer awareness—the paper draws a comparative analysis with global consumer protection agencies like the FTC (USA) and CMA (UK).

Finally, the paper offers actionable recommendations to strengthen the CCPA’s framework, including enhancing autonomy, improving inter-agency coordination, increasing digital transparency, and ensuring public awareness. The study concludes that while the CCPA is a commendable initiative, its long-term success hinges on strategic reforms, administrative efficiency, and greater public engagement.

Keywords

Consumer Protection, Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), Consumer Protection Act, 2019, Misleading Advertisements, Product Recall, E-commerce Regulation, Consumer Rights, Regulatory Enforcement, Consumer Redressal Mechanism, Fair Trade Practices, Comparative Consumer Law, FTC (USA), CMA (UK), Consumer Awareness.