Under Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Central Consumer Protection Authority shall, among its core functions:

Section 18(1)(a) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 mandates that the Central Authority shall protect, promote, and enforce the rights of consumers as a class, and prevent violation of consumer rights under the Act. Section 18(1) further requires the Central Authority to prevent unfair trade practices, and to ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made of any goods or services, and that no person takes part in the publication of any advertisement which is false or misleading. Section 18(2) operationalises these functions by empowering the Central Authority to inquire into or investigate violations of consumer rights or unfair trade practices (suo motu, on complaint, or on Central Government direction), file complaints before the consumer commissions, and intervene in proceedings before them - establishing it as a proactive, class-level regulator distinct from the individual-complaint adjudicatory role of the District, State, and National Commissions.