Consumer Justice Report 2026 Released - YUVA Competitive Academy

Key Findings:

Rising Pendency: Despite improved disposal numbers (88.5% of the 7.64 lakh cases) post-pandemic, total case pendency increased by 21% between 2020 and 2024. This far exceeds the timelines prescribed under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which mandates disposal within three to five months.
Underutilization of Alternative Redressal: Across 23 states providing data, only 134 cases were referred to mediation nationwide.
Declining Representation of Women: The share of women among presidents and members in 14 responding SCDRCs declined from an average of 35% in 2021 to 29% in 2025
High Vacancies: As of 2025, nearly 50% of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (SCDRCs) lacked a sitting president.

Consumer Protection Act, 2019 replaced the Consumer Protection Act 1986.
The Act mandates establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the Centre as well as in each State and District, they render advice on promotion and protection of the consumers’ rights.
It also provides for a 3-tier structure for speedy resolution of consumer disputes.
1. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC): Take cases of value is more than Rs 2 crore and hear appeals from the state commissions
2. State CDRCs: For the value from Rupees Fifty Lakh One upto Rupees Two Crore.
3. District CDRCs: Cases of value upto Rupees Fifty Lakh.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has been established to conduct investigations into violation of consumer rights and institute complaints / prosecution, order recall of unsafe goods and services, etc.
Recently, Supreme Court invoked Article 142 to allow High Courts to hear consumer appeals where the commissions are non-functional.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides for a three tier quasi-judicial machinery at District, State and National level commonly known as “Consumer Commissions” for protection of the rights of consumers and to provide simple and speedy redressal of consumer disputes including those related with unfair trade practices.
The Consumer Commissions are empowered to give relief of a specific nature and award compensation to consumers, wherever appropriate.
At present, there is one National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission at the national level and thirty-five State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions at the state level.
As per Section 38 (7) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, every complaint shall be disposed of as expeditiously as possible and endeavour shall be made to decide the complaint within a period of three months from the date of receipt of notice by opposite party where the complaint does not require analysis or testing of commodities and within five months if it requires analysis or testing of commodities.
To serve the interest of speedy justice to the end consumers, Consumer Protection Act states that no adjournment shall ordinarily be granted by the consumer commissions unless sufficient cause is shown and the reasons for grant of adjournment have been recorded in writing by the Commission.

establishment of a Central Consumer Protection Authority(CCPA);
simplification of the adjudication process in the Consumer Commissions such as enhancing pecuniary jurisdiction of the Consumer Commissions,
online filing of complaint from the Consumer Commission having jurisdiction over the place of work/residence of the consumer irrespective of the place of transaction, videoconferencing for hearing, deemed admissibility of complaints if admissibility is not decided within 21 days of filing;
provision of product liability;
penal provisions for manufacture/sale of adulterated products/spurious goods;
provision for making rules for prevention of unfair trade practice in e-commerce and direct selling.