The Supreme Court ruled that advocates cannot be held liable under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 for deficiency in service.

• Indian Medical Association vs V P Shantha (1996): SC ruled that the definition of ''services'' under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 included the medical and healthcare sectors, provided a fee was paid.

Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 2019:

• The CPA 2019 replaced the CPA 1986 to address modern consumer issues in the digital age.
• Its objective is to provide effective safeguards to consumers against defective products, unsatisfactory services, and unfair trade practices.
• The Act established the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to regulate matters relating to consumer rights violations, unfair trade practices, and misleading advertisements.
• Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (CDRCs) are set up at the national, state, and district levels to handle consumer complaints.

Key Features of CPA 2019:

• Broad Definition of Consumer: The definition includes transactions through online and offline modes, teleshopping, direct selling, and multi-level marketing.
• Product Liability: Manufacturers and service providers are responsible for compensating consumers for any harm caused by defective products or deficient services.
• Unfair Trade Practices: Expanded to include non-issuance of bills/receipts, refusal to accept returned goods within 30 days, and disclosure of personal information.
• E-Commerce Regulation: Specific provisions are included to regulate e-commerce and direct selling.
• CCPA Powers: The authority can take suo-moto actions, recall products, order reimbursements, cancel licenses, impose penalties, and file class-action suits.
• Mediation: Provision for mediation cells at national, state, and district levels to resolve disputes amicably.
• Enhanced Jurisdiction: Increased pecuniary jurisdiction for district, state, and national commissions to reduce the workload on higher commissions.
• Penalties for Misleading Advertisements: Penalties of up to INR 5 million for endorsers not exercising due diligence before endorsing products.

6 Consumer Rights under CPA 2019:

• Right to Safety: Protection against goods and services hazardous to life and property.
• Right to be Informed: Information about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and price of goods or services.
• Right to Choose: Access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices.
• Right to be Heard: Representation of consumer interests in appropriate forums.
• Right to Redressal: Redress against unfair trade practices, restrictive trade practices, or unscrupulous exploitation.
• Right to Consumer Education: Knowledge about consumer rights and responsibilities to make informed choices.

The Injambakkam-Akkarai stretch development project has been recommended by the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA).

The project aims to restoration and develop the beach stretch between Injambakkam and Akkarai in Chennai to achieve Blue Flag certification.

Blue Flag Certification:

• The Blue Flag Certification is an esteemed voluntary eco-label awarded globally.
• The certification honours beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators.
• It is Administered by the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), based in Denmark.
• It aligns with stringent criteria covering water quality, environmental management, and safety.
• It underscores the commitment to environmental education.
• It supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting global sustainability.

Criteria for Blue Flag Certification:

To receive the Blue Flag, applicants must meet 33 specific criteria.

These criteria are divided into four main areas:

1. Environmental education and information
2. Bathing water quality
3. Environmental management
4. Safety and conservation services at the beaches

Historical Context and Expansion of Blue Flag:

• Launched in 1987, initially within Europe, the Blue Flag program has expanded globally.
• As of now, it includes over 5,042 beaches, marinas, and sustainable tourist vessels.
• The program celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2022, marking over three decades of environmental advocacy.

Award Process for Blue Flag:

• A global jury comprising representatives from UNEP, UNWTO, IUCN, and FEE decides the awardees.
• The process emphasizes reconnecting the public with their natural environments through education.

India VIX Index

TheVolatility Index (VIX):

• The Volatility Index, also known as VIX or the Fear Index, quantifies the market''s anticipation of volatility over the short term.
• Defined as the rate and magnitude of price changes, the VIX serves as a measure of market risk or financial instability.
• This index reflects how much an underlying index is expected to fluctuate in the near term, expressed as annualized volatility in percentage terms (e.g., 20%).
• A rise in the VIX generally indicates increased market volatility, often seen with steep market movements either upwards or downwards. Conversely, a decline in the VIX suggests subsiding volatility.
• Initially based on the S&P 100 Index option prices in 1993, the methodology for the VIX was revised in 2003 to utilize S&P 500 Index options.
• The VIX was pioneered by the Chicago Board of Options Exchange (CBOE), marking it as the first volatility index for the US markets.

India VIX:

• India VIX specifically measures the expected market volatility over the next 30 calendar days in India.
• It is computed by the National Stock Exchange (NSE) based on the order book of NIFTY Options, utilizing the best bid-ask quotes of near and next-month NIFTY options contracts traded on the F&O segment of NSE.
• Like its global counterpart, higher values of India VIX indicate greater expected volatility and lower values suggest less anticipated fluctuations.
• The index serves as a crucial indicator of investor sentiment regarding near-term market risk.
• India VIX is a licensed use of the ''VIX'' trademark by the CBOE, granted to NSE with permissions for application specifically to the Indian market context.

The recent death of a Kadar tribesman in Tamil Nadu’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve in an elephant attack has left the indigenous community and conservationists in shock as Kadars are known to co-exist with wild elephants for ages.

Kadars:

• The Kadars are a small indigenous tribal community in South India.
• They reside along the hilly border between Cochin in Kerala and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
• They are traditional forest dwellers who depend on forest produce for sustenance.
• They do not practice agriculture, building shelters thatched with leaves and shifting locations as their employment requires.
• They prefer to eat rice obtained in trade or as wages rather than to subsist on food of their own gathering.
• They have long served as specialized collectors of honey, wax, sago, cardamom, ginger, and umbrella sticks for trade with merchants from the plains.
• Kadar have a symbiotic relationship with nature, and they believe in the coexistence of Kadar and Kaadu (forest).
• The Kadar have traditional protocols to ensure the sustainable use of forest resources.
• Every practice of resource collection—be it honey, firewood, resin, or herbs—is designed to allow time for regeneration.
• Their population was estimated at approximately 2,000 individuals in the early 21st century.
• They speak the Dravidian languages of Tamil and Kannaḍa.
• They worship jungle spirits and their own kindly creator couple, as well as local forms of the Hindu deities.
• They are listed as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Kerala, but not in Tamil Nadu.

Less rainfall, high temperature: Tea production in Assam, Bengal may fall by 50%

Tea Crop (Camellia sinensis):

Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub or small tree belonging to the plant family Theaceae.

Climatic Requirements:

• Optimal temperature range: 20-30°C.
• Rainfall needs: 150-300 cm, evenly distributed throughout the year.
• Prefers a humid and moderate climate.

Soil conditions:

• Requires deep, well-drained, friable loamy soils.
• Soil should be rich in humus and organic matter.
• Ideal soil pH is between 4.5 to 5.5.

Major Tea-producing States in India:

• Assam,
• West Bengal (including Darjeeling, Dooars, Terai),
• Tamil Nadu (including the Nilgiris),
• Kerala, and
• Karnataka.

Plant Physiology:

• Tea plants are typically pruned to remain under 2 meters in height.
• Its leaves range from 4 to 15 cm in length and 2 to 5 cm in width, with young leaves featuring light green color and white hairs.
• The flowers of the tea plant are white and yellow, measuring 2.5 to 4 cm in diameter.

Common diseases and pests:

• Blister blight, red rust, and root-knot nematode.
• Pest management often involves regular pruning and the use of organic fertilizers.

Tea Board of India:

• The Tea Board was established in 1953 under the Tea Act and began its operations in 1954.
• Its headquarters is located in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Functions and objectives:

• It is tasked with the development and promotion of the tea industry in India.
• Implements various schemes for promoting tea and improving its quality.
• Regulates tea production, exports, and marketing.
• Facilitates research and development in tea cultivation and processing techniques.

Structure:

• The Tea Board comprises 31 members including the Chairman.
• Its membership includes representatives from Parliament, tea producers, traders, brokers, consumers, state governments, and trade unions.
• It is reconstituted every three years.

Schemes and initiatives:

• Tea Development and Promotion Scheme.
• Wage Compensation Scheme.
• Tea Boutiques, aimed at enhancing retail presence.