National Consumer Helpline crosses 1,000 convergence partners; AI tools coming under NCH 2.0
On 24 November 2024, the Department of Consumer Affairs said the National Consumer Helpline had partnered with 1,009 companies under its Convergence Programme to speed up grievance redressal.
Summary
On 24 November 2024, the Department of Consumer Affairs said the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) had 1,009 companies as partners under its Convergence Programme, up from 263 in 2017, spanning e-commerce, travel, private education, FMCG and other sectors. Calls to NCH grew nearly tenfold, from 14,795 in January 2015 to 1,41,817 in January 2024. Under NCH 2.0, the department is introducing AI-based speech recognition, a translation system and a multilingual chatbot, to be launched on National Consumer Day. The helpline is available in 17 languages and serves as the central pre-litigation grievance redressal point.
Key facts
- Convergence partners
- 1,009 (263 in 2017)
- Calls
- 14,795 (Jan 2015) → 1,41,817 (Jan 2024)
- NCH 2.0
- AI speech recognition, translation, multilingual chatbot
- Languages
- 17
- Launch
- On National Consumer Day
Practice MCQs 3 questions
How many companies were convergence partners of the National Consumer Helpline, as reported on 24 November 2024?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1,009
PIB (DoCA): convergence partners rose from 263 companies in 2017 to 1,009 companies.
In how many languages is the National Consumer Helpline available, according to the Department of Consumer Affairs (24 November 2024)?
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Correct answer: D — 17
PIB (DoCA): the helpline is available in 17 languages, including Hindi, English, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Nepali, Gujarati and Marathi.
Which set of technologies is the Department of Consumer Affairs introducing under NCH 2.0?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — AI-based speech recognition, a translation system and a multilingual chatbot
PIB (DoCA): NCH 2.0 introduces AI-based speech recognition, a translation system and a multilingual chatbot, to be launched on National Consumer Day.