The consumer movement started due to the dissatisfaction of the consumers as the sellers were involved in many unfair practices. There was no legal system available in the market to protect the consumer from exploitation. It was believed that it is the responsibility of a consumer to exercise caution while purchasing a commodity or service. It took many years for organizations in India and around the world to bring awareness among people. They put the responsibility of ensuring the quality of goods and services on the sellers.

The consumer movement as a social force in India was born out of the need to protect and promote the interests of consumers in unethical and unfair business practices. Due to extreme food shortage, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of food items and edible oil, a systematic consumer movement emerged in the 1960s. By 1970, consumer organizations started writing and demonstrating articles related to consumer rights on a large scale. Consumer groups were formed for this. There was a huge increase in the number of consumer parties in India.

As a result of all these efforts, the movement succeeded in putting pressure on both the business companies and the government to rectify unfair business practices, against the interests of the consumers at large.