New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹7 lakh on Vajiram & Ravi IAS Study Centre LLP for allegedly publishing misleading advertisements related to UPSC Civil Services Examination results by concealing key information about the courses attended by successful candidates.
The action was taken under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, following an investigation that found the coaching institute had prominently showcased the names, photographs and ranks of successful UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023 candidates without disclosing the nature of their association with the institute.
According to the CCPA, many of the candidates highlighted in the advertisements had enrolled only in the institute’s free Interview Guidance Programme (IGP), which is offered after aspirants independently clear the highly competitive Preliminary and Main examinations.
The authority observed that by featuring these candidates alongside advertisements for its paid coaching programmes, the institute created the impression that they had benefited from its full-fledged classroom coaching. The absence of clear disclosure regarding the specific courses attended amounted to deliberate concealment of material information, the CCPA said.
The regulator held that such practices violate consumers’ right to accurate information and fall within the definition of a misleading advertisement under the Consumer Protection Act.
The CCPA noted that it has issued more than 60 notices to coaching institutes and imposed penalties exceeding ₹1.46 crore in recent years to curb misleading advertisements and ensure transparency in the coaching sector.
