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New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has Shankar IAS Academy fined Rs 5 lakh for misleading advertisements related to 2022 civil services exam.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs on Sunday, the regulator, led by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, found that the coaching institute had made false claims about its success rate and the nature of courses taken by successful candidates.
First, Mint On August 19, it was reported that a total fine of ₹1,000 was imposed on 15 coaching institutes. Shankar IAS Academy has been fined Rs 38.60 lakh. The institute was fined Rs 5 lakh, which had not been paid till the time of publication.
According to the statement, the institute has claimed in its advertisement for the 2022 UPSC Civil Services Exam that “336 out of 933 have been selected at the all-India level”, “there are 40 candidates in the top 100”, and “2 candidates from Tamil Nadu have been successful, out of which 37 have studied at Shankar IAS Academy”. The institute has also advertised itself as the “best IAS academy in India”.
However, the CCPA found that Shankar IAS Academy “deliberately concealed” information about the specific courses taken by the successful candidates as advertised.
“As a result, this practice lures consumers into purchasing paid courses advertised by coaching institutes,” Khare said in the statement.
The CCPA investigation revealed that of the 336 candidates declared successful, 221 had only attended the free interview guidance programme, while others had attended various short-term or specific examination components instead of the full courses, the release said.
The academy also claimed credit for candidates who had purchased the prelims courses after the 2022 exam, presumably to prepare for the following year’s exam.
The CCPA highlighted that over 10 lakh candidates apply for the prestigious civil services exam every year, making UPSC aspirants a vulnerable consumer segment. It is also formulating guidelines for IAS coaching institutes, which are currently in the final stages of development.
Section 2(28)(iv) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 addresses misleading advertisements involving deliberate concealment of crucial information. It highlights that information about the course chosen by successful candidates is important to consumers. This transparency enables prospective students to make informed decisions when selecting a course and coaching institute.
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