Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examinations (CSE) coaching, Drishti IAS, has been fined Rs 5 lakh for publishing misleading advisements, making fake claims regarding the results of UPSC CSE 2022. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution penalised the popular coaching institute for misleading ads that it published regarding the results of examinations held three years ago.
An official release of the ministry said that the Drishti IAS, owned by Vikas Divyakirti, in its advertisement prominently claimed “216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022”” along with names and photographs of successful candidates. However, when thoroughly checked, the CCPA found that the claim was “misleading and concealed crucial information regarding the type and duration of courses opted by these candidates”.
The agency found that out of the 216 candidates claimed by Drishti IAS, as many as 162 candidates (75%) had only taken the free Interview Guidance Programme (IGP) of the Institute, after independently clearing the Preliminary and Mains stages of UPSC CSE. Only 54 students were enrolled in IGP+ other courses.
Also, the deliberate concealment of information misled aspirants and parents into believing that the IAS institute was responsible for their success in all stages of UPSC examination, which is a “misleading advertisement under Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.”
CCPA flags repeated violation by Drishti IAS
The CCPA mentioned this was not the first time it had penalised Drishti IAS. Last year also, the authority passed a similar order against the coaching institute for its misleading claim of “150+ selections in UPSC CSE 2021”. Drishti IAS submitted the details of 161 candidates against its claim of 150+ selection in UPSC CSE 2021.
“In that case too, it was found that out of these 161 candidates, 148 were enrolled in IGP, 7 were enrolled in Mains Mentorship Program, 4 were enrolled in GS Foundation Program, 1 in Optional course and details of remaining 1 candidate was not mentioned. CCPA imposed penalty of ₹ 3 lakh and directed to discontinue the misleading advertisement,” the CCA added.
It said that despite being penalised and warned, “Drishti IAS once again indulged in the same practice for the 2022 examination results by enhancing its claim to “216+ selections”,” which was repeated non-compliance and disregard of consumer protection norms.
What does CCPA rule say
The CCPA mandates that crucial information cannot be concealed from students and their parents who hold the right to make an informed choice under Section 2(9) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Such advertisements create false expectations and unfairly influence consumer decisions, particularly when large claims are made without transparent disclosure of facts, it said.
The CCPA said that so far, it has issued 54 notices to various coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. A total penalty amounting to over Rs 90.6 lakh have been imposed on 26 coaching institutes/.
“CCPA noted that all such institutes concealed important information regarding courses opted by successful candidates in its advertisement which amounts to misleading advertisement under Consumer Protection Act, 2019,” it said, adding that the officials stressed that all coaching institutes must strictly ensure truthful disclosure of information in their advertisements.