BIS-Care Mobile App

BIS-Care Mobile App | UPSC

HEADLINES:

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan launches BIS Mobile App ‘BIS-Care’ and Standardization, Conformity Assessment and Training Portals of e-BIS

WHY IN NEWS:

Hot from PIB !

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 2 : 3 : 4 : Consumer rights : Role of Consumer

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS do you remember a question appeared in the last Prelims on QCI (Quality council of India ) .

Yes ! That motivated us to write this article too. Hope this will serve the purpose . Look out for aim and features of this app .

For MAINS do you think one app integrated with AI is better than different applications for several purpose ?

ISSUE:

All provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 have come into force from 24th July, 2020 including the Consumer Protection (e-Commerce) Rules, 2020

MOBILE APP ‘BIS-CARE’

LAUNCH

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan today launched the Bureau of Indian Standard’s Mobile App ‘BIS-Care

AIM

Bureau of Indian Standards (Bhartiya Manak Bureau) provides an interface to consumers to lodge any complaint or grievance, through a complaint portal on the website or through e-mail.

Considering the fact that mobile phones have become an easy mode to access internet and communicate.
A mobile app based on Android platform has been developed, which would provide the same facilities accessible through mobile phone.

FEATURES

Consumers can check the authenticity of the ISI-marked and hallmarked products .
App also allows users to lodge complaints using this app.
The mobile app BIS-Care can be operated on any Android phone.
The Android based mobile application provides Complaint Management System.

REGISTRATION

The consumer can register himself with BIS through a simplified one time registration module.

The user is required to enter his name and mobile number with an option to provide his email-id as well.
The user can use the app after an initial identity verification done through a One Time Password.

CONSUMER CAN LODGE COMPLAINTS REGARDING ISSUES

Quality of Product.
Quality of Services.
Misleading Advertisements.
Other issues regarding any ISI marked product.

Once registered, consumers can also view their complaint history and track the status of their complaints through the app.

LANGUAGES

This app is operational in Hindi and English language and can be downloaded free from Google play store.

An important aspect of BIS functioning is certification and surveillance to enforce the implementation of standards.

SIGNIFICANCE

BIS is strengthening its capacity of enforcement by implementation of e-BIS, an integrated portal covering all its functions.
This will enable BIS market surveillance and development of mobile app-based and AI-enabled surveillance methods.

It is important to ensure that consumers are aware of the standards and quality products .

BIS is playing important role in the formulation of Quality Control Orders to make the standards mandatory.
Every e-commerce entity is required to establish a grievance redressal mechanism.
The entity has to appoint a grievance officer, whose name, designation, contact details are required to be displayed on its platform.
The e-commerce entities are to ensure that the grievance officer acknowledges the receipt of any consumer complaint within forty-eight hours .
The entity must redresses the complaint within one month from the date of receipt of the complaint.
The violation of the rules will be dealt with under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
In case of class action regarding unfair trade practice and misleading advertisements, the Central Consumer Protection Authority can take action.
For any compensation, a consumer can approach a Consumer Commission of appropriate jurisdiction.

BIS IS INVOLVED IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES

Standards Formulation
Product Certification Scheme
Compulsory Registration Scheme
Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme
Hall Marking Scheme
Laboratory Services
Laboratory Recognition Scheme
Sale of Indian Standards
Consumer Affairs Activities
Promotional Activities
Training Services, National & International level
Information Services

IASbhai WINDUP:

Consumers can lodge their grievances, preferably with supporting evidence, against ISI marked / BIS certified products or services rendered to them by BIS.
To achieve the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and protect the interests of consumers, BIS has formulated standards in the areas important for boosting our exports .

SUGGESTED READING : https://bis.gov.in/index.php/the-bureau/origin-of-bis/

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

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