CCPA Fines UPSC Coaching for Misleading Ads
Action Taken Against Misleading Claims by Coaching Institutes, Including UPSC Exam Centers
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken strict action against coaching institutes misleading aspirants of major competitive exams, including the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE). Recently, a penalty of ₹2 lakh was imposed on Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study for making false claims regarding UPSC CSE 2023 results.
Under the leadership of Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, the CCPA directed the institute to immediately stop its deceptive advertisements. Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study had claimed that it coached “13 students in the Top 100,” “28 in the Top 200,” and “39 in the Top 300” of UPSC CSE 2023. Additionally, its advertisements and letterheads misleadingly used phrases like “Shubhra Ranjan IAS” and “Students of Shubhra Ranjan IAS,” creating a false impression that Ms. Shubhra Ranjan is or was an IAS officer.
Findings of the Investigation
The investigation revealed that the institute had showcased names and photos of successful candidates in its advertisements without clarifying which courses these candidates had taken. Most of these candidates had enrolled only in crash courses or test series conducted after the preliminary examination. By omitting this critical detail, the institute implied that its success rates applied uniformly across all its courses.
Broader Actions Against Coaching Institutes
Earlier, on November 22, 2023, CCPA imposed a fine of ₹7 lakh on Vajirao and Reddy Institute for similar misleading advertisements regarding UPSC CSE 2022 results. To date, CCPA has issued notices to 45 coaching centers and levied fines totaling ₹63.2 lakh on 20 institutions.
This action serves as a warning to coaching centers against exploiting aspirants with deceptive marketing practices.
