Executive Summary:
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1639 regarding the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). It details the structure of consumer dispute redressal mechanisms in India, efforts to simplify complaint filing and ensure speedy disposal, and the status of pending cases. The information was presented on July 30, 2025, by the Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Key Points / Main Content:
Consumer Protection Act, 2019:
* Repealed the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, to modernize consumer protection.
* Established the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).
* Simplified adjudication through enhanced pecuniary jurisdiction, online filing (regardless of transaction place), video conferencing, and deemed admissibility of complaints within 21 days.
* Includes product liability provisions and penalties for adulterated/spurious goods.
* Provides rules for preventing unfair trade practices in e-commerce and direct selling.
Consumer Dispute Redressal Mechanisms:
* Features a three-tier quasi-judicial system (District, State, National level Consumer Commissions).
* Empowers commissions to provide specific relief and compensation.
* Currently, there is one NCDRC at the national level and 35 SCDRCs at the state level.
* There are 685 District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions across the country (state-wise list in Annexure).
Case Disposal:
* Section 38(7) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, mandates expeditious disposal of complaints (3 months if no analysis/testing is required; 5 months if analysis/testing is required).
* Adjournments are restricted unless sufficient cause is shown and recorded in writing.
Technology and Grievance Redressal:
* Video conferencing is available for 10 NCDRC benches and 35 SCDRC benches.
* The e-Jagriti portal enhances grievance redressal via microservice architecture, AI/ML integration, faceless onboarding, and role-based dashboards.
* The portal unifies OCMS, eDaakhil, NCDRC CMS, and CONFONET into a single system for seamless complaint filing with multilingual support.
Case Statistics (NCDRC):
* 2022: 3,655 cases filed; 4,054 cases disposed of.
* 2023: 5,816 cases filed; 6,125 cases disposed of.
* 2024: 4,546 cases filed; 6,953 cases disposed of.
* 2025: 1,856 cases filed; 2,370 cases disposed of.
* Total (2022-2025): 15,873 cases filed; 19,502 cases disposed of.
Impact Analysis:
Consumers:
Impact: Benefit from simplified complaint filing, quicker resolution of disputes, enhanced transparency through the e-Jagriti portal, and a modernized legal framework.
Action Required: Utilize the online filing system and e-Jagriti portal for efficient grievance redressal.
Consumer Commissions (District, State, and National):
Impact: Must adhere to the timelines for case disposal as per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and utilize video conferencing and the e-Jagriti portal for efficient functioning.
Action Required: Implement the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, ensure timely disposal of cases, and integrate the e-Jagriti portal into their processes.
Manufacturers/Sellers:
Impact: Face increased scrutiny and potential penalties for selling adulterated or spurious goods and are subject to product liability provisions.
Action Required: Ensure compliance with product safety standards and fair trade practices to avoid penalties and liabilities.
Key Entities Referenced
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission: A national level consumer disputes redressal commission, abbreviated as NCDRC.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019: An act enacted to modernize the framework governing consumer protection.
Central Consumer Protection Authority: A newly established authority, abbreviated as CCPA, under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in relation to the number and location of Consumer Courts.
Consumer Protection Act, 1986: The consumer protection act that was repealed by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The government ministry responsible for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution.
e Jagriti portal: A portal developed to enhance consumer grievance redressal.
ORIGINAL IN HINDI
Government of India
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Department of Consumer Affairs
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1639
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
NCDRC
1639. SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:
(OIH) SHRI DAMODAR AGRAWAL:
SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:
SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) exists in all the States of
the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof including number and location of Consumer Courts located in the country
especially in Chhattisgarh;
(c) the details of efforts being made by the Government to simplify the procedure for filing complaints of
consumers and to ensure their speedy disposal in the NCDRC;
(d) the details of cases lying pending with NCDRC across the country for the last three years and whether
the Government has taken any steps for speedy disposal of pending cases; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI B.L.VERMA)
(a) to (e) : Department of Consumer Affairs is continuously working for consumer protection and
empowerment of consumers by enactment of progressive legislations. With a view to modernize the
framework governing the consumer protection in the new era of globalization, technologies, e-commerce
markets etc. Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was repealed and Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was enacted.
Salient features of the new Consumer Protection Act, 2019 are 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.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 (NCDRC) at the national
level and thirty five State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions at the state level. The number of
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (State-wise) is at Annexure.
The consumer cases filed and disposed by the NCDRC since last three years are as follows :-
Filing Cases filed Cases disposed during the year (also includes the cases
Year during the year disposed which were filed in the previous years)
2022 3,655 4,054
2023 5,816 6,125
2024 4,546 6,953
2025 1,856 2,370
Total 15,873 19,502
Further, 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.
Besides providing VC facilities to 10 benches of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal
Commission (NCDRC) and 35 benches of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (SCDRCs), an e-
Jagriti portal has been developed to enhance consumer grievance redressal through a micro-service
architecture, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning integration and latest features like faceless onboarding
and role-based dashboards. It unifies existing applications (OCMS, e-Daakhil, NCDRC CMS, CONFONET
application) into a single, scalable system that significantly benefit consumers by enabling them to file
complaints seamlessly from anywhere, anytime, with multi-lingual support. The integrated platform
streamlines the grievance redressal process, offering faster resolution and enhanced transparency.
****ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO. 1639 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025 REGARDING NCDRC.
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S. No. Name of State/UT No. of District Commissions
1. A&N Island (UT) 1
2. Andhra Pradesh 17
3. Arunachal Pradesh 25
4. Assam 23
5. Bihar 38
6. Chandigarh (UT) 2
7. Chhattisgarh 27
8. D&N Haveli and D&D (UT) 1
9. Delhi (UT) 10
10. Goa 2
11. Gujarat 38
12. J&K (UT) 10
13. Kerala 14
14. Lakshadweep (UT) 1
15. Haryana 22
16. Himachal Pradesh 12
17. Jharkhand 24
18. Karnataka 33
19. Madhya Pradesh 48
20. Maharashtra 40
21. Manipur 3
22. Meghalaya 7
23. Mizoram 11
24. Nagaland 11
25. Odisha 30
26. Puducherry (UT) 1
27. Punjab 23
28. Rajasthan 37
29. Sikkim 6
30. Tamil Nadu 32
31. Telangana 12
32. Tripura 4
33. Uttarakhand 13
34. Uttar Pradesh 79
35. West Bengal 28
Total 685
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