UGC asks varsities to offer elective course on consumer affairs

Many universities will  soon offer an elective course on consumer affairs at the undergraduate level.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities and their affiliate colleges to consider offering an elective course on consumer affairs to their students from this year "to strengthen the consumer movement in India."

An expert committee of the commission has prepared a model syllabus for the elective course on the subject, which seeks to familiarise students with their rights and responsibilities as a consumer, the social framework of consumer rights and the legal framework of protecting consumer rights.

This also provides an understanding of the procedure followed to redress consumer complaints with several of its chapters offering students an understanding of the concept of consumer and markets as well as the grievance redressal mechanism available under the consumer protection law in India.

The model syllabus for the elective paper has a separate chapter on the role of different agencies in establishing product and service standards as well as the role of industry regulators, including banks and insurance companies, in consumer protection.

This is to enable a student get a grasp over business firms' interface with consumers and the consumer related regulatory and business environment after completing the course.

"The idea is to strengthen the consumer movement in India through creating awareness among all segments of consumers, including young college-going students. Greater involvement of students in the consumer movement would enhance the pace at which the ideals of the movement percolate far and wide in society," UGC secretary PK Thakur said.

In the model syllabus, the commission has proposed to complete the elective course on the consumer affairs through a total of 65 lectures. The paper will carry a total 100 marks in examination.

"Since every student is a consumer and will continue to be a consumer for the rest of his or her life, this module may be offered as an elective for students of any discipline," Thakur added.

The commission has asked the varsities to "suitably adopt" the model syllabus on the consumer affairs studies and also conduct the faculty development programmes to enable their faculty members to teach the subject.