Banking and Insurance - Laws and Practice · Consumer Protection

State and District Consumer Protection Councils under the 2019 Act

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The State Council (Section 6) and the District Council (Section 8) are advisory bodies under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Each advises on promotion and protection of consumer rights in its area (Sections 7 and 9). The State Council is chaired by the State's consumer affairs Minister, the District Council by the Collector. Each meets at least twice a year.

Understand State and District Consumer Protection Councils

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 builds consumer protection in layers. At the top is the Central Council. Below it sit the State Consumer Protection Council and the District Consumer Protection Council. These councils are not courts. They do not decide disputes or award relief. That job belongs to the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions.

The key word in both sections is advisory. A council brings officials and non-officials together so that consumer interests are heard and policy is shaped. Its only object is to render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights under the Act. The State Council advises within the State. The District Council advises within the district.

The State Council is set up by the State Government by notification (Section 6). The Minister-in-charge of Consumer Affairs in the State Government is the Chairperson. Other members are of two kinds: official or non-official members representing prescribed interests, and members, not exceeding ten, nominated by the Central Government. The number of the first kind is fixed by State rules (Section 102(2)(c)).

The District Council is also set up by the State Government by notification, one for every district (Section 8). The Collector of the district, by whatever name called, is the Chairperson. The other official and non-official members representing prescribed interests are fixed by State rules (Section 102(2)(e)). Note that the Central Government nominates no members here.

Both councils must meet as and when necessary, but not less than two meetings every year. The Chairperson decides the time and place. The procedure is prescribed by rules. For the District Council the meeting must be within the district.

Key rules to remember

State Council: establishment: Section 6(1): State Government, by notification, establishes the State Council for the State; Established by the State Government, not the Central Government.
State Council: nature and members: Section 6(2): advisory council = Minister-in-charge of Consumer Affairs (Chairperson) + prescribed official/non-official members + Central Government nominees (not exceeding ten); Only the State Council has Central Government nominees.
State Council: objects: Section 7: render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights under the Act within the State; Advice only. No adjudication.
District Council: establishment: Section 8(1): State Government, by notification, establishes a District Council for every District; One council for every district.
District Council: members: Section 8(2): advisory council = Collector (Chairperson) + prescribed official and non-official members; Collector is the Chairperson, by whatever name called.
District Council: objects: Section 9: render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights under the Act within the district; Same object as the State Council, limited to the district.
Meetings: Sections 6(3) and 8(3): as and when necessary, not less than two meetings every year; Applies to both councils. Chairperson fixes time and place; procedure is prescribed.
Rule-making: Section 102(2)(c)-(f): State rules fix number of members, time, place and procedure; State Government makes these rules; the Central Government may frame model rules.

How to solve State and District Consumer Protection Councils questions

Use this method for any question on the councils, whether it asks for composition, objects, comparison or a short case.

1Identify which council the question is about: State (Sections 6 and 7) or District (Sections 8 and 9).
2State who establishes it and how: the State Government, by notification.
3Name the Chairperson: the consumer affairs Minister for the State Council, the Collector for the District Council.
4List the other members, including the Central Government nominees (up to ten) for the State Council only, and say the numbers are prescribed by State rules.
5State the object: advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights, limited to the State or the district.
6Add the meeting rule: at least two meetings a year, time and place fixed by the Chairperson.
7In a case question, apply the rule to the facts and conclude clearly, noting that a council only advises and does not decide disputes.

Quickest way: Four-point comparison grid

When to use it: Use it when the question asks for a difference between the State and District Councils, or when time is short.

Write four headings: Established by, Chairperson, Members, Area of advice.
State Council: State Government; Minister-in-charge of Consumer Affairs; prescribed members plus up to ten Central nominees; within the State.
District Council: State Government; Collector; prescribed members only; within the district.
Close with the common points: advisory nature and at least two meetings a year.

Common mistakes in State and District Consumer Protection Councils

Saying the councils decide consumer complaints or award compensation.
Students confuse councils with the District, State and National Commissions.
Fix: Remember that councils are advisory. Disputes go to the Commissions.
Writing that the Central Government establishes the State Council.
The Central Council is set up by the Central Government, so students carry that over.
Fix: Both the State and District Councils are set up by the State Government by notification.
Giving the Collector as Chairperson of the State Council, or the Minister as Chairperson of the District Council.
Students mix up the two sections.
Fix: Minister for the State Council, Collector for the District Council.
Saying the Central Government nominates members to the District Council.
The nominee clause in Section 6 is remembered and applied to both councils.
Fix: Only Section 6 has nominees, not exceeding ten. Section 8 has none.
Writing the meeting rule as 'at least one meeting' or 'quarterly'.
Confusion with other bodies, such as the quarterly report of the mediation cell.
Fix: Both councils meet as and when necessary, but not less than two meetings every year.
Stating a fixed number of other members.
Students want a number to write.
Fix: The numbers of other members are as prescribed by State rules. Only the Central nominees have a stated cap of ten.

Worked examples

Example 1

Explain the composition and objects of the State Consumer Protection Council under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Show the solution

Establishment: under Section 6(1), every State Government establishes a State Council for its State, by notification.
Nature: it is an advisory council.
Composition: the Minister-in-charge of Consumer Affairs in the State Government is the Chairperson.
Other members: such number of official or non-official members representing prescribed interests, and such number of other official or non-official members, not exceeding ten, as the Central Government nominates.
Objects: under Section 7, to render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights under the Act within the State.
Meetings: as and when necessary, but not less than two a year, at the time and place the Chairperson thinks fit.

Answer: The State Council is an advisory body set up by the State Government. Its Chairperson is the State's consumer affairs Minister. It has prescribed members and up to ten Central Government nominees. Its object is to advise on promoting and protecting consumer rights within the State, and it meets at least twice a year.

Example 2

A district in a State has a District Consumer Protection Council. The Collector chairs it and has not convened any meeting this year. A member says the council can still hear a consumer's complaint about a defective product. Examine.

Show the solution

Provision: Section 8 makes the District Council an advisory council chaired by the Collector. Section 8(3) requires not less than two meetings every year.
Analysis of meetings: no meeting has been held this year. The rule says as and when necessary but at least two a year, so the Collector must convene the meetings.
Analysis of the complaint: under Section 9 the object is only to render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights within the district. The council has no power to hear complaints or give relief.
Conclusion on forum: the consumer should approach the District Commission, which the State Government establishes under Section 28.

Answer: The member is wrong. The District Council is advisory and cannot hear the complaint, which belongs before the District Commission. Separately, the Collector must hold at least two meetings a year, so the lack of any meeting is a lapse.

Exam tips

Learn Sections 6 and 7 as a pair, and Sections 8 and 9 as a pair. Examiners often ask for one pair or the difference between them.
In a difference question, use the four-point grid. The Central nominees (up to ten) are the main distinguishing point.
Always write the word advisory and the phrase promotion and protection of consumer rights. These carry the marks.
In a case question, write provision, analysis of facts and conclusion. Say clearly that a council cannot decide disputes.
Cite section numbers only where sure. Sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 102(2)(c)-(f) are safe.

Practice questions from Consumer Protection

State and District Consumer Protection Councils in other exams

The same ground in other exams, if you are preparing for more than one or want another angle on it.

CS ExecutiveConsumer Rights and Consumer Protection Councils

State and District Consumer Protection Councils: frequently asked questions

What are the objects of the State Consumer Protection Council under Section 7?

Its object is to render advice on promotion and protection of consumer rights under the Act within the State. It has no power to decide disputes.

Who is the Chairperson of the District Consumer Protection Council?

The Collector of the district, by whatever name called, is the Chairperson under Section 8(2). The State Government establishes the council by notification.

What is the difference between the State and District Councils?

The State Council is chaired by the State's consumer affairs Minister and includes up to ten Central Government nominees. The District Council is chaired by the Collector and has no Central nominees. The State Council advises for the whole State, the District Council for its district.

How often must these councils meet?

Each must meet as and when necessary, but not less than two meetings every year. The Chairperson fixes the time and place, and the procedure is prescribed by rules.