NEW DELHI – The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has fined two prominent coaching centers, Dikshant IAS and Abhimanu IAS, Rs 8 lakh each. The fines were imposed after receiving complaints from UPSC-qualified candidates regarding the unauthorized use of their names and photographs in advertisements. Both centers faced penalties for engaging in misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices, directly violating the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The CCPA, led by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra, issued detailed orders against both institutes. The authority emphasized that such actions undermine consumers’ fundamental right to make informed decisions, especially in critical educational choices. This ruling highlights the CCPA’s commitment to ensuring transparency and honesty in the coaching industry.
Dikshant IAS Fined for Unsubstantiated Claims
Dikshant IAS published advertisements asserting over 200 successful results in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2021. These advertisements prominently featured photographs and names of successful candidates. However, the coaching center failed to disclose the specific courses taken by these advertised students from their institution. This omission prevented potential aspirants from understanding the true extent of the institute’s contribution to their success.
Despite receiving multiple opportunities, Dikshant IAS could not provide credible evidence to substantiate its claims. The CCPA’s investigation revealed a significant discrepancy: only 116 enrollment forms were produced, far short of the ‘200+ results’ claimed. Furthermore, Dikshant IAS stated that several students had attended its Interview Guidance Programme (IGP), conducted jointly with Chahal Academy. Yet, the institute failed to submit any agreement with Chahal Academy or evidence that students were informed of the joint nature of the program. The authority found Dikshant IAS took full credit for all examination stages, deliberately concealing crucial information about the specific course engagement from potential aspirants.
Abhimanu IAS Penalized for Unauthorized Use and Falsehoods
Abhimanu IAS also faced severe penalties for similar deceptive practices. The institute falsely claimed a candidate as its student and used their name and photograph without obtaining proper authorization. The CCPA’s investigation uncovered that Abhimanu IAS had only shared a question bank with the candidate based on their Detailed Application Form (DAF) for a mock interview that was never actually conducted. This act misrepresented the extent of the candidate’s association with the institute.
In addition to the unauthorized use of personal data, Abhimanu IAS published several other misleading claims. These included sweeping assertions such as ‘2200+ Selections since Inception,’ ’10+ Selections in IAS Top 10,’ and ‘1st Rank in HCS/PCS/HAS.’ The advertisements also featured pictures and names of successful candidates from various 2023 examinations. These included the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Haryana Civil Services (HCS), RBI Grade-B, and NABARD Grade A, creating a broad impression of success across multiple competitive fields.
Consumer Protection Act, 2019: Ensuring Informed Choices
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, underpins the CCPA’s actions. This Act upholds the fundamental right of consumers to make informed decisions. Misrepresentation of facts in advertisements directly interferes with this right. Students, in particular, might invest significant time, money, and effort into coaching based on exaggerated or false success rates. Such practices are deemed unfair trade practices under the Act, warranting strict corrective measures to protect public interest.
Call to Action: Report Misleading Claims
The CCPA has issued a clear directive to all successful candidates of competitive examinations. They are urged to immediately report any instance where a coaching institute falsely uses their name or photograph in advertisements. This proactive reporting is vital for maintaining transparency and accountability within the competitive examination coaching industry and for upholding consumer rights.