In India, in which year was the Consumer Protection Act (commonly known as COPRA) first passed by the Parliament?

Introduction / Context:
The Consumer Protection Act, popularly known by the short form COPRA, is a landmark piece of legislation in India that aims to protect consumers from unfair trade practices, defective goods, and deficient services. It provides for consumer councils and consumer courts at different levels. General knowledge and civics questions often ask the year in which this important act was first enacted.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the original Consumer Protection Act, not to later amendments or replacement acts.
• The Act was passed by the Parliament of India and then notified for implementation.
• It is commonly referred to as COPRA in school level civics and economics textbooks.
• The options offer different years in the 1980s and 1990s.
• We assume standard exam oriented information about the year of enactment.

Concept / Approach:
The Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986 to provide better protection of the interests of consumers and to establish authorities for settlement of consumer disputes. The act has been amended several times and later replaced by an updated Consumer Protection Act in a more recent year, but the original law that students commonly study under the name COPRA dates from 1986. Therefore, the correct year to remember for basic general knowledge questions is 1986.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Consumer Protection Act was introduced in the mid 1980s as part of efforts to strengthen consumer rights in India.Step 2: Note that school textbooks and exam guides specifically mention the year 1986 in connection with COPRA.Step 3: Look at the options given: 1984, 1980, 1986, 1995, and 1991.Step 4: Compare the remembered year with these options and recognise that 1986 appears as option c.Step 5: Confirm that later dates such as 1991 and 1995 are associated with other reforms, not with the original COPRA.Step 6: Select 1986 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official legal references and standard civics textbooks clearly state that the Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986. They often note that the act marks the beginning of a stronger, formal consumer movement in India. Many objective questions in competitive examinations also use the wording, in which year was the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) passed, and provide 1986 as the correct option. This consistent information confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a, 1984, is earlier than the actual year of the act and is therefore incorrect. Option b, 1980, also precedes the enactment of COPRA. Option d, 1995, may refer to later developments but does not match the year the original act was passed. Option e, 1991, is known more for economic reforms and liberalisation measures, not for the initial consumer protection law. None of these years correspond to the original enactment of COPRA.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the year of the original act with years of amendments or later replacement laws. Another common mistake is to mix up COPRA with other important dates in Indian economic reforms, such as 1991. To avoid errors, it is useful to memorise the simple association: COPRA and consumer protection act of India originally passed in 1986.

Final Answer:
The Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) was first passed in India in the year 1986.