According to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, a consumer means any person, who buys any product or hires/avails of any service for a consideration. It also includes any user of such goods or beneficiary of such services provided, use-is made with the approval of the buyer.
But it does not include a person, who obtains such goods for resale or for any commercial purpose. Commercial purpose does not include use by a consumer of goods bought and used by him exclusively for the purpose of earning his livelihood by means of self-employment.