The department ensures food security through efficient implementation of the Public Distribution System (PDS), enforcement of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), consumer protection, and regulation of essential commodities.
Residents of Goa who meet the income and other eligibility criteria under NFSA or State schemes may apply. Households are categorized into PHH (Priority Households), AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana), and APL (Above Poverty Line).
Applications can be submitted online through https://nfsa.gov.in/
The following documents need to be submitted along with the application:
– Aadhaar cards of all family members
– Income certificate
– Passport-sized photograph of the head of the family
– NFSA: Eligible families receive 5 kg of fortified rice per person, free of cost.
– AAY: 35 kg of fortified rice per ration card (free).
– APL: 12 kg of fortified rice at ₹12.50/kg and 7 kg of wheat at ₹8/kg.
Yes, ONORC is implemented in Goa. Beneficiaries can collect their monthly entitlement from any FPS in Goa using Aadhaar-based biometric authentication. Currently, there are approximately 3,000 monthly transactions under ONORC in Goa.
e-KYC can be done at any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in Goa using biometric authentication or through the ‘Mera eKYC’ app using face authentication.
You may file a complaint via the toll-free number 1967 or by visiting the respective Taluka Civil Supplies Office.
A ration card must be surrendered if the beneficiary’s income exceeds ₹5 lakh or if they are relocating out of the state. To do so, apply for a cancellation certificate at the Taluka office, stating the reason and new location. The certificate will be issued accordingly.
Visit the concerned Taluka office and submit an application addressed to the Assistant Director of Civil Supplies, along with:
– Self-declaration for duplicate RC
– Police report (RC)
– report from the FPS
– Aadhaar copies of HOF
– Copy of the original ration card (If Available)
Yes. Beneficiaries can use the Goa AePDS portal and the ImPDS app to check entitlements, transaction history and Mera ekyc app to complete ekyc through face authentication.
Yes. FPS dealers are required to display helpline numbers and grievance redressal information. Complaints can also be escalated to Taluka or Headquarters offices.
A person who buys any goods or services for a consideration, which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised, or under any system of deferred payment also includes the user with approval of such goods or beneficiary of services.
As per Consumer Protection Act 2019, the expression “buys any goods” and ‘hires or avails any services” includes offline or online transactions through electronic means or by teleshopping or direct selling or multi-level marketing.
A person who obtains;
- Goods free of charge
- Who avails services free of charge
- Who obtains goods for resale or for any commercial purposes
- Who avails services for any commercial purposes
- Who avails services under contract of service
As per the provisions of the Act, commercial purpose does not include use by a person of goods bought and used by him exclusively for the purposes of earning his livelihood by means of self-employment.
Consumer is having the following six consumer rights under the Act
- Rightto be Protected
- Right to be Informed
- Right to Assured
- Right to be heard
- Right to seek Redressal
- Right to Consumer Awareness
“goods” means every kind of movable property and includes “food” as defined in clause (j) of sub-section(1) of section 3 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
“Service” means service of any description which is made available to potential usersand include the provision of facilities in connection with banking, financing, insurance, transport, processing, supply of electrical or other energy, board orlodging or both, housing construction, entertainment, amusement or the purveying ofnews or other information, but does not include the rendering of any service free of charge or under a contract of personal services.
No
These are quasi-judicial bodies established under the Act to provide simple, speedy and inexpensive Redressal to the grievances of the consumers. These have been established at three levels: District, State and National known as:
- District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or District Commission
- State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or State Commission
- National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or National
| Under CPA2019 |
| District Commission: Upto Rs. 50 lakhs |
| State Commission: Rs. 50 lakhs – 2 cr |
| National Commission: above Rs. 2cr |
A complaint shall be instituted in a District Commission within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the:
- Place of business of residence of opposite parties, or
- Place of business of residence of complainant, or
- Where the cause of action, wholly or in part, arises
Misleading advertisement” in relation to any product or service, means an advertisement, which—
- Falsely describes such product or service; or
- Gives a false guarantee to, or is likely to mislead the consumers as to the nature, substance, quantity or quality of such product or service; or
- Conveys an express or implied representation which, if made by the manufacturer or seller or service provider thereof, would constitute an unfair trade practice;
or
Deliberately conceals important information
Manufacturers, advertising agencies, celebrity endorsers and publishers can be made liable.
Dark patterns shall mean any practices or deceptive design pattern using user interface or user experience interactions on any platform that is designed to mislead or trick users to do something they originally did not intend or want to do, by subverting or impairing the consumer autonomy, decision making or choice, amounting to misleading advertisement or unfair trade practice or violation of consumer rights.
Examples of Dark Pattern are False Urgency, Basket Sneaking, Confirm Shaming, Forced action, Subscription trap, Bait and switch, drip pricing, nagging, trick Questions, SaaS billing etc.
No, damage of the product itself cannot be the base for product liability compensation.
- A product manufacturer shall be liable in a product liability action, if—
- The product contains a manufacturing defect; or
- The product is defective in design; or
- There is a deviation from manufacturing specifications; or
- The product does not conform to the express warranty; or
- The product fails to contain adequate instructions of correct usage to prevent any harm or any warning regarding improper or incorrect usage.
- A product manufacturer shall be liable in a product liability action even proves that he was not negligent or fraudulent in making the express warranty of a product.
A complaint:
- Should be in writing
- Can be filed in a regular way (offline)
- Can be filed online–https://e-jagriti.gov.in/
A complaint can be presented by the complainant in person or by his agent. It can even be sent by registered post along with the court fee (in case of amount greater than 5 Lakhs).
Normally three copies of the complaint are required to be submitted out of which one retained for the official purpose, one is forwarded to the opposite party and one is thefor the complainant. In case the number of opposite parties is more correspondingly more copies of the complaint are required.
Yes. Either at the first hearing after admission, or at later stage if the District/State Commission is of the view that, there exists an element of settlement, can refer the complaint to Mediation with the consent of the parties.
Also, parties at any stage of the complaint can opt for settlement through mediation.
No appeal lies after the settlement of dispute through mediation.
Consumer Commissions are quasi-judicial bodies to provide simple and speedy justice. These have been kept free from the complicated judicial procedures. The manner is quite informal and free from the shackles of the Civil Court. There is no need for an advocate or any other pleader and consumer can himself or through his representative file and represent his complaint.
- Name, description and address of the complainant;
- Name, description and address of the opposite party or parties;
- Facts relating the complaint and when and where it arose;
- Documents, if any in support of allegations
The complaint shall be filed within two years from the date on which the cause of action has arisen. This would mean two years from the day the deficiency in service or defect in goods has arisen/detected. This is also known as the limitation period for filing the complaint.
i. Removal of defects from the goods;
ii. Replacement of the goods;
iii. Refund of the price paid;
iv. Removal of defects or deficiencies in the services;
v. Award of compensation for the loss or injury suffered;
vi. Discontinue and not to repeat unfair trade practice or restrictive trade practice;
vii. To withdraw hazardous goods from being offered for sale;
viii. To cease manufacture of hazardous goods and desist from offering services which are hazardous in nature;
ix. If the loss or injury has been suffered by a large number of consumers who are not identifiable conveniently, to pay such sum (not less than 25% of the value of such defective goods or services provided) which shall be determined by the Commission;
x. To issue corrective advertisement to neutralize the effect of misleading advertisement;
xi. To provide adequate costs to parties.
Any consumer who is aggrieved by the order of a commission can prefer an appeal in the higher commission within a period of thirty days from the date of the order. The appeal can be preferred;
- Against order of the District Commission before the State Commission Court within 45 days.
- Against order of the State Commission before the National Commission within 30 days
- Against order of the National Commission before the Supreme Court within30 days
Every complaint filed shall be accompanied by a fee, as specified in the table given below, in the form of crossed Demand Draft drawn on a nationalized bank or through a crossed Indian Postal Order in favor of the President of the District Commission or the Registrar of the State Commission or the Registrar of the National Commission, and payableat the respective place where the District Commission, State Commission or the National Commission is situated, or through electronic mode as per arrangement made by the Commission concerned.
| Sr.No | Value of Goods or Service paid as Consideration | Court Fee |
| District Commission | ||
| 1 | Upto5 Lakh | Nil |
| 2 | Above 5Lakh– Upto 10 Lakh | Rs. 200 |
| 3 | Above 10lakh– Upto 20 Lakh | Rs. 400 |
| 4 | Above 20Lakh– Upto 50 Lakh | Rs. 1000 |
| State Commission | ||
| 5 | Above 50 Lakh– Upto1 Crore | Rs. 2000 |
| 6 | Above 1 Crore– Upto 2 Crore | Rs. 2500 |
| National Commission | ||
| 7 | Above 2 Crore– Upto 4 Crore | Rs. 3000 |
| 8 | Above 4 Crore– Upto 6 Crore | Rs. 4000 |
| 9 | Above 6 Crore– Upto 8 Crore | Rs. 5000 |
| 10 | Above 8 Crore– Upto 10 Crore | Rs. 6000 |
| 11 | Above 10 Crore | Rs. 7500 |