Step 1: Background of Consumer Protection Act.
The original Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986 to safeguard consumer rights in India. Over time, new challenges such as e-commerce and digital transactions necessitated an updated law.
Step 2: New Consumer Protection Act.
The New Consumer Protection Act was passed in 2019, but it officially came into effect on 20th July, 2020. This Act replaced the 1986 law and introduced new provisions like e-commerce regulation, stricter penalties, and establishment of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).
Step 3: Analysis of options.
- (A) 1986: This was the year of the old Act, not the new one.
- (B) 2019: The year the new Act was passed, but it came into effect later.
- (C) 2000: Not related to consumer protection legislation.
- (D) 2020: Correct, as the New Consumer Protection Act came into effect in July 2020.
Step 4: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (D) 2020.