In the notification of the Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution

## Policy Analysis Report: Corrigendum to Consumer Affairs Notification **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a corrigendum issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs, concerning a prior notification regarding the National Commission. The corrigendum, published on March 15, 2021, clarifies the effective date of the designation of an entity as the "National Commission," changing it from "to be known as" to "to be known as with effect from the 20th July, 2020." This report details the change, its background, and its potential impact. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative analysis of a corrigendum to a notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, based solely on the provided text. The report aims to clarify the specific change introduced by the corrigendum and its potential implications. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment:** This document is a corrigendum, amending a prior notification (S.O. 106 E, dated January 12, 2021) related to consumer affairs. * **Core Objective (inferred):** The primary objective appears to be to ensure the accurate and unambiguous communication of the effective date for an entity to be recognized as the "National Commission." This is inferred as the amendment addresses the effective date. **4. Background and Rationale:** * **Amendment Rationale:** The need for this specific amendment likely arose from a perceived ambiguity in the original notification (S.O. 106 E, dated January 12, 2021) concerning the effective date from which the National Commission designation was to take effect. The original wording "to be known as" may have been interpreted as a future effective date, necessitating the clarification provided by the corrigendum to specify that the designation took effect retroactively from July 20, 2020. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * **Specific Part of Original Policy Being Changed:** Line 7 of notification S.O. 106 E, dated January 12, 2021, is being changed. * **New Rule/Provision:** The text "to be known as the National Commission" is replaced with "to be known as the National Commission with effect from the 20th July, 2020." * **Difference/Effect of the Change:** The amendment clarifies that the designation of the entity as the "National Commission" was effective from July 20, 2020, rather than from the date of the original notification or some unspecified future date. This retroactive effect could have implications for cases handled by the commission. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the target audience and stakeholders primarily include: * The National Commission itself. * Parties involved in consumer disputes that fall under the jurisdiction of the National Commission. * Legal professionals and the judiciary dealing with consumer protection laws. * The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs, is the responsible agency. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The key timeline specified is the effective date of July 20, 2020, for the National Commission's designation. The notification and corrigendum were officially published in the Gazette of India, establishing a formal record of the change. * **Amendment Implementation:** The implementation of the amendment requires the relevant bodies to take into account July 20, 2020, as the effective date for any actions or decisions related to the "National Commission." **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** * **Intended Outcome of Changes:** The primary intended outcome of this amendment is to eliminate any ambiguity regarding the effective date of the National Commission's designation. This clarification may affect pending cases or decisions made by the commission since July 20, 2020. This clarification helps ensure legal certainty and consistency in the application of consumer protection laws. **9. Conclusion:** The corrigendum analyzed in this report clarifies the effective date of the designation of an entity as the "National Commission" under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. By specifying that the designation took effect from July 20, 2020, the amendment addresses potential ambiguities and ensures legal certainty in the functioning of the commission and its application of consumer protection laws. This correction is significant for stakeholders involved in consumer dispute resolution, ensuring consistent application of regulations.

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