New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalties of ₹8 lakh each on two prominent UPSC coaching institutes — Dikshant IAS and Abhimanu IAS — for issuing misleading advertisements, engaging in unfair trade practices, and violating consumer rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The orders, issued by the CCPA headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, aim to safeguard students’ right to truthful information and prevent deceptive claims in the education sector.
Misuse of Candidates’ Names and Photos
According to the CCPA, both institutes had used the names and photographs of successful UPSC candidates in promotional materials without their consent, falsely claiming credit for their results. Representations were received from affected candidates, including Ms. Mini Shukla (AIR 96, UPSC CSE 2021) and Ms. Natasha Goyal (AIR 175, UPSC CSE 2022), prompting the regulator to take action.
In Ms. Shukla’s case, Dikshant IAS had featured her name and image in advertisements claiming “200+ Results in UPSC CSE 2021” without disclosing that she had never been enrolled with the institute. Despite claiming to have jointly conducted an interview guidance programme with another academy, the institute failed to produce credible evidence or student consent forms. The CCPA found that the institute’s advertisements “deliberately concealed crucial information” and misled aspirants regarding the nature of students’ participation.
False and Unsubstantiated Claims
Similarly, Abhimanu IAS was found to have made exaggerated and unverified claims such as “2200+ Selections since Inception,” “10+ Selections in IAS Top 10,” and “1st Rank in HCS/PCS/HAS.” The investigation revealed that many of these selections dated back over a decade and that several of the featured candidates had only attended mock interviews or received question banks — not full-time coaching.
The CCPA observed that such omissions and distortions “create a false impression of institutional success and influence the decisions of aspirants unfairly.” The authority held these practices to be in violation of Sections 2(28) and 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, which prohibit misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, grants consumers the right to be informed with truthful and accurate details enabling rational choices. Misleading advertisements, especially in the education sector, can have far-reaching consequences for students who invest substantial time, effort, and financial resources based on false claims.
The CCPA has urged successful candidates of competitive examinations to report any unauthorized use of their names or photographs by coaching centres in advertisements or promotional campaigns.
Action Against Coaching Institutes
So far, the CCPA has issued 57 notices to various coaching institutes for deceptive advertising and unfair trade practices. Penalties totaling ₹98.6 lakh have been imposed on 27 institutes, alongside directions to withdraw misleading claims.
The authority emphasized that the latest action against Dikshant IAS and Abhimanu IAS is part of its broader effort to promote transparency, accountability, and fair competition in the coaching industry.
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