The CCPA found that the coaching institute had concealed critical details about the courses taken by the candidates it claimed had cleared the prestigious examination.
The advertisements boasted of “13 students in the top 100,” “28 in the top 200,” and “39 in the top 300,” prominently featuring names and photos of successful candidates.
Additionally, the institute used terms like “Shubhra Ranjan IAS” and “Students of Shubhra Ranjan IAS” in its ads and letterheads, misleading consumers into believing that Mrs Shubhra Ranjan is or was an IAS officer.
The consumer regulator stated that these advertisements violated the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, by “deliberately concealing important information” and depriving consumers of making informed decisions when selecting coaching services. The institute has been directed to immediately stop using the misleading advertisements.
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This action comes in the wake of a similar penalty of ₹7 lakh imposed on Vajirao & Reddy Institute for deceptive UPSC CSE 2022 advertisements last month.
To date, the CCPA has issued 45 notices to coaching institutes for misleading claims, imposing total penalties of ₹63.60 lakh on 20 institutions. The Department of Consumer Affairs has also intervened through the National Consumer Helpline to assist students at a pre-litigation stage in disputes involving UPSC, IIT, and other entrance exam coaching services.
