India to Chair UNCTAD’s Global Consumer Protection Forum in Geneva
Secretary Nidhi Khare to lead Ninth Session of Intergovernmental Group of Experts; UN to launch Consumer Product Safety Principles
India will be represented by Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, who has been invited by UNCTAD to chair the prestigious session.
New Delhi: India is set to assume a prominent global leadership role in consumer protection as it chairs the Ninth Session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE) on Consumer Protection Law and Policy, organised by the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva from July 6 to 8.
The three-day session, to be held at the Palais des Nations in Switzerland, will bring together representatives from member states, international organisations, consumer protection authorities, academia and policy experts to deliberate on emerging global challenges in consumer protection law and policy.
The Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE), constituted under the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP), serves as the UN’s principal intergovernmental platform for cooperation, dialogue and policy development on consumer protection.
India to Lead Global Deliberations
India will be represented by Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, who has been invited by UNCTAD to chair the prestigious session. As Chairperson, she will preside over discussions among member countries and guide deliberations on strengthening consumer protection frameworks worldwide.
India’s appointment reflects its growing recognition as an important contributor to international consumer protection policy and its expanding role in promoting digital consumer rights and cross-border dispute resolution.
UN to Launch Consumer Product Safety Principles
A major highlight of the Geneva meeting will be the launch of the United Nations Principles for Consumer Product Safety, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2025.
India will also participate in a high-level fireside discussion titled “Why the Principles Matter,” focusing on strengthening global consumer safety standards and promoting safer products across international markets.
The session will further deliberate on:
- Implementation of the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection by member countries.
- Consumer information and awareness.
- Sustainable consumption practices.
- Enforcement of consumer protection laws in increasingly globalised markets.
- Cross-border consumer protection mechanisms.
- Voluntary Peer Review of Argentina’s consumer protection law and policy.
- Capacity-building initiatives and institutional reforms.
India’s Digital Consumer Protection Model Gains Global Recognition
India has increasingly showcased its digital-first approach to consumer grievance redressal at international forums.
During the Ninth United Nations Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection held in Geneva in 2025, the Department of Consumer Affairs highlighted India’s National Consumer Helpline (NCH) and its innovative pre-litigation convergence mechanism for resolving consumer disputes efficiently.
The National Consumer Helpline has emerged as one of the country’s most effective consumer grievance platforms. Over the past 14 months, it has facilitated refunds exceeding ₹91.77 crore by resolving more than 1.47 lakh refund-related complaints across 36 sectors, preventing disputes from escalating into litigation.
AI-Powered Consumer Justice
India has also strengthened its consumer justice ecosystem through e-Jagriti, an AI-enabled digital platform that allows consumers to file complaints online, participate in virtual hearings, access electronic case management and monitor proceedings digitally.
The platform has significantly expanded access to justice by enabling Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas consumers to pursue complaints remotely, strengthening India’s cross-border consumer dispute resolution framework.
Strengthening India’s Global Role
India’s leadership of the Ninth Session underscores the country’s growing influence in shaping global consumer protection standards at a time when digital commerce, cross-border transactions and emerging technologies are creating new challenges for regulators worldwide.
By chairing the UNCTAD forum and sharing its experience in digital grievance redressal, AI-enabled consumer services and pre-litigation dispute resolution, India is expected to contribute significantly to international efforts aimed at building more transparent, efficient and consumer-centric protection frameworks.
