. In India, the consumer movement as a ‘social force’ began with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unfair trade practices. . Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organised form in the 1960s. . Till the 1970s, consumer organisations were largely engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. . They formed consumer groups to look into the malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in the road passenger transport. . Because of these efforts, the movement succeeded in bringing pressure on business firms, as well as the government to correct business conduct. . A major step taken in 1986 by the Indian government, was the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, popularly known as COPRA. . They formed consumer groups to look into the malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in the road passages transport. . More recently, India witnessed an upsurge in the number of consumer groups.