Diwali Shopping Guide: Know Your Rights Before You Pay

Festive sales bring real bargains, but also misleading discounts, hidden charges, fake products, unsafe decorations, adulterated sweets and refund disputes.

A festive offer is not automatically a good deal. You have the right to accurate information, safe products, fair treatment and a remedy when something goes wrong.

A practical consumer guide by PRAN Foundation

If you read nothing else, remember these five things

Compare the final price you will pay, not the discount percentage on the banner.
Check the MRP, date and quantity on packaged goods, and always take a bill.
Buy safe: look for the BIS mark on electrical items, an FSSAI number on food, and a HUID hallmark on jewellery.
Never share your UPI PIN or OTP to "receive" money or a refund.
Keep proof of everything. Call 1915 (National Consumer Helpline) if a seller won't fix a problem.

1. Do not be misled by festive discounts

"Up to 70% off", "special Diwali price", "buy one, get one free" and "limited-time offer" are everywhere in the festive season. The biggest number on the banner is not always the lowest price you can get.

Compare prices across shops and reputable online platforms.
Check the specifications, model number and warranty.
Look for extra delivery, installation, packaging or convenience charges.
Read the conditions attached to cashback, vouchers and bundled offers.
Be cautious if a seller creates artificial urgency so you can't compare.

Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices can attract legal action. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has powers to act within its statutory remit.

Consumer tip: Compare the final amount you will actually pay, not the percentage discount.

2. Check the MRP and the final bill

For packaged commodities, the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) is generally the highest price at which the product can be sold to you, inclusive of applicable taxes, subject to legal rules and exceptions.

Before paying:

Check the printed MRP, quantity and product details.
Check the manufacturing or packing date and the expiry or use-by date, where applicable.
Ask for an itemised bill or invoice.
Make sure the amount charged matches the displayed price and terms.

A retailer cannot ordinarily charge more than the MRP on a packaged commodity just because demand is high at Diwali. MRP rules do not cover every pricing arrangement, though. Restaurant services, separately charged services and some other transactions follow different requirements.

Suspect an overcharge? Keep the bill and, where appropriate, photograph the price label or display.

3. Buy safe and genuine products

Lights, lamps, extension boards, appliances and toys end up in homes with children and older people. A low price should never come at the cost of safety.

Buy electrical products from reliable sellers.
Inspect plugs, wires, insulation, switches and labelling.
Look for the BIS Standard Mark and check whether certification is compulsory for that product.
Avoid products with missing labels, doubtful certification marks or no identifiable manufacturer or importer.
For appliances, check the warranty, after-sales service and availability of spare parts.

Not every product must carry a BIS mark. It depends on the product and the applicable standards or quality-control orders. Check on the Bureau of Indian Standards website.

Toys and children's products: check age suitability, warnings and safety requirements. A familiar brand name or attractive packaging is not proof that a product is genuine or safe.

4. Be careful with sweets, dry fruits and gifts

Demand for sweets, savouries, dry fruits, chocolates and gift hampers peaks at Diwali. Judge freshness, hygiene and labelling, not just appearance or packaging.

Buy from establishments that keep reasonable hygiene and hold the required food-business licence or registration.
Check the FSSAI licence or registration number where applicable.
Inspect packaging, ingredients, allergen information and date markings.
Avoid damaged packaging, signs of spoilage, unusual appearance or an off smell.
Check the net quantity and price of pre-packaged food.
Make sure items that need refrigeration have been stored properly.

Not every loose sweet is adulterated, and not every packaged product is safe. Weigh the seller, the product's condition, hygiene and the information provided.

Suspect unsafe food? Keep the bill and packaging and report it to the food-safety authority. Official information: FSSAI.

5. Know your rights when shopping online

Sales make it easy to buy clothes, electronics and gifts online. Trouble starts when the product differs from its description, the seller misrepresents it, or a refund is delayed.

Check the seller's identity, ratings and return policy.
Read the description closely: size, material, specifications, warranty.
Check delivery charges and the expected delivery date.
Read the cancellation, exchange and refund terms.
Save the order confirmation, invoice and screenshots of the product page.

If a wrong, damaged, defective or materially misrepresented product arrives, document its condition (photos, unboxing video) and complain through the seller's or platform's official grievance mechanism.

The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 set disclosure and grievance-handling duties for e-commerce entities. The exact remedy depends on the facts and the applicable law.

Coming soon, not yet in force: The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Amendment Rules, 2026 were announced in September 2026 and are scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027. They address disclosure of prior and reduced prices, sponsored listings, search-result transparency and seller information. These requirements do not apply during Diwali 2026. Read the Government's announcement (PIB).

A seller's return policy does not automatically cancel your statutory consumer rights. Equally, a simple change of mind does not create an unconditional right to return every product. The terms of sale, the nature of the product and the law all matter.

6. Read the return, exchange and refund conditions

Gifts, clothing, footwear and appliances are the usual sources of festive disputes: the item doesn't fit, is defective, or can't be exchanged as expected. Ask before you buy:

Can the item be exchanged?
Do I get a refund, or only store credit?
Is there a deadline to raise a return request?
Do sale items have special conditions?
What happens if the product is defective or not as described?

A clearly disclosed, lawful change-of-mind policy is one thing. The remedy for goods that are defective, deficient or misrepresented is another. A blanket "no return, no refund" notice is not automatically a full answer to every consumer complaint. Keep the receipt, packaging and warranty papers wherever possible.

7. Buying gold, silver or jewellery? Verify before you pay

Jewellery is often the biggest Diwali purchase. Don't rely on verbal assurances about purity or weight.

Check whether the item falls under mandatory hallmarking.
Verify the BIS hallmark and HUID details where relevant.
Ask for an invoice stating the item, purity, net weight and charges.
Understand making charges, wastage charges and taxes.
Get the exchange, buyback and deduction policy in writing.

Hallmarking rules vary by product, exemptions and notifications. Confirm the current position for your item on the BIS website.

Consumer tip: Never compare jewellery quotes without checking purity, net weight and the charges included in each.

8. Watch cashback offers and digital-payment charges

Cashback, reward points and wallet, UPI or card offers can come with a spending threshold, expiry date, eligible-card restriction or cashback cap. Read the conditions first.

Payment safety: Never share your UPI PIN or OTP with anyone "processing a refund". You never need to scan a QR code or enter a PIN to receive money.

Check the payee name and amount before approving a payment.
Save the transaction reference if a payment fails or the wrong amount is debited.
Ask for clarification if a merchant adds a digital-payment fee.

Payment charges and merchant obligations depend on the applicable rules. A fee payable by the merchant is not automatically payable by you.

9. Avoid fake websites, impersonation and festive scams

Fraudsters use festival promotions to imitate known brands, shopping platforms, banks and courier services.

Be wary of odd domain names and copied branding.
Never pay a "fee" to claim a prize or gift without independent verification.
Don't install unknown apps or share your screen at an unverified caller's request.
Verify payment links and sellers before transferring money.
Be suspicious of prices far below the normal market rate.

Lost money to fraud? Call 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in immediately, and inform your bank or payment provider. Early reporting may help, but recovery is not guaranteed.

10. What to do when a seller violates your rights

Approach the seller or platform. Explain the problem clearly and say what remedy you want.
Preserve evidence. Invoices, advertisements, photographs, messages, warranty papers, delivery records, payment confirmations.
Use the right grievance channel. The seller's grievance officer, the e-commerce platform, the relevant regulator, the food-safety authority or your payment provider.
Call the National Consumer Helpline. It offers a pre-litigation grievance-redressal route.
Consider a consumer complaint. If unresolved, you can file before the competent Consumer Commission, subject to jurisdiction, limitation and other legal requirements.

1915National Consumer Helpline, generally 8 AM to 8 PM except national holidays

8800001915Helpline on WhatsApp

consumerhelpline.gov.inRegister a grievance online

e-JagritiConsumer Commission filing and services

The CCPA deals with violations affecting consumers as a class, such as unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements. For an individual grievance, the Government directs consumers to the National Consumer Helpline, and complaints before Consumer Commissions follow the proper process.

11. Your Diwali consumer checklist

Tap each box as you go.

I compared the final price, not just the advertised discount. I checked the MRP and quantity where applicable. I checked product quality, authenticity and safety. I checked food labels, freshness and hygiene. I read the return, exchange and warranty conditions. I verified jewellery purity and invoice details, where applicable. I checked the seller and payment details before paying. I kept the bill and proof of purchase. I know where to complain if something goes wrong.

Celebrate Diwali with confidence, not confusion

Consumer awareness doesn't mean avoiding festive shopping or distrusting every seller. It means asking questions before you pay, making informed choices, and knowing what to do when a purchase goes wrong. Honest businesses gain too when prices are transparent, products are safe and complaints are handled fairly.

This Diwali, let the spirit of celebration go hand in hand with responsible spending, product safety and respect for consumer rights. A fair marketplace is a shared responsibility, but consumers should not have to surrender their rights simply because it is the festive season.

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About PRAN Foundation. PRAN Foundation (Policy Research Action Network Foundation) works on consumer protection, access to justice, governance and accountability, public health and safety, labour and livelihoods, and sustainability. Through research, public education and advocacy, PRAN seeks to promote fairer, safer and more accountable systems.

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Disclaimer: This article is for general consumer awareness and is not legal advice. Applicable rights and remedies depend on the facts, the relevant laws and current regulatory requirements.