The consumer regulator said the ads breached provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 relating to misleading advertising by “deliberately concealing important information”.
CCPA imposes Rs 2 lakh fine on Shubh Ranjan Institute of IAS Studies, UPSC Coaching, for misleading advertisement. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) found that the institute hid crucial information about courses taken by students who claimed to have passed the prestigious Indian Civil Services Examination (CSE) in their advertisements.
The institute’s advertisement claimed “13 students in top 100”, “28 students in top 200”, and 39 students in top 300 in UPSC CSE 2023, and prominently displayed names and photographs of successful candidates, an official release said. The institute used words like “Shubra Ranjan IAS” and “Students of Shubra Ranjan IAS” in its advertisement. and letterheads, creating a misleading impression that Shubhra Ranjan is/is an IAS officer, it added.
The consumer regulator said the ads breached provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 relating to misleading advertising by “deliberately concealing important information”. Lack of proper disclosure about the course details of successful students prevented consumers from making an informed choice while choosing coaching institutes, the CCPA said, urging Shubh Ranjan IAS Studies to stop misleading advertisements.
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On November 22, the CCPA imposed a fine of Rs 7 lakh on Vajirao and Reddy Institute for misleading advertisement regarding UPSC CSE 2022 results. The CCPA has so far issued 45 notices to various coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and imposed a fine of Rs 63.60 lakh. In 20 coaching institutes, misleading advertisements instructing them to close.
The Department of Consumer Affairs, through the National Consumer Helpline, has successfully intervened at the pre-litigation stage to ensure justice for students and aspirants appearing for UPSC Civil Services, IITs and other entrance examinations.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published by PTI)