Misleading Coaching Ads: CCPA slaps ₹11 Lakh Penalty On Delhi Institute

The CCPA Vision IAS penalty marks a significant step in the government’s ongoing crackdown on misleading advertisements by coaching institutes. The Central Consumer Protection Authority on Wednesday imposed a ₹11 lakh fine on Vision IAS, a prominent coaching institute for the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE).

According to an official statement, the authority found that Vision IAS published misleading claims about its students’ success rates on its official website, creating a false impression among aspirants and parents.

Claims of High UPSC Selections Under Scrutiny

The consumer watchdog examined advertisements on Vision IAS’s website that claimed “7 in top 10 and 79 in top 100 selections in CSE 2023” and “39 in top 50 selections in CSE 2022.”

The advertisements prominently displayed the names, photographs, and ranks of successful candidates. However, the CCPA found serious inconsistencies in how the institute disclosed the candidates’ association with its courses.

While Vision IAS clearly mentioned that Shubham Kumar, All India Rank 1 in UPSC CSE 2020, had enrolled in its GS Foundation Classroom Course, it failed to provide similar disclosures for other candidates featured on the same webpage.

Selective Disclosure Found to Be Misleading

The authority observed that this selective disclosure misled viewers into assuming that all highlighted candidates had studied under the institute’s flagship Foundation Course, which involves fees running into several lakhs.

In reality, the majority of those candidates had not enrolled in the foundation programme. By prominently promoting the foundation course alongside selective information, the institute created a distorted narrative about its role in candidates’ success.

The CCPA held that such practices directly influence aspirants’ decisions and violate fair advertising standards.

Only Three Foundation Students Among 119 Toppers

After a detailed investigation, the consumer watchdog found that Vision IAS had claimed association with more than 119 successful candidates across UPSC CSE 2022 and 2023.

However, only three candidates had actually enrolled in full foundation courses. The remaining 116 candidates had used limited services such as:

• Preliminary or Mains test series
• One-time Abhyaas tests
• Mock interview programmes

The authority noted that these limited engagements did not justify the broad claims made in the advertisements.

Violation of Consumer Protection Act

The CCPA ruled that Vision IAS’s actions amounted to a “misleading advertisement” under Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

By concealing material information and exaggerating outcomes, the institute misrepresented the nature of its services and overstated its contribution to candidates’ success across all stages of the examination.

The authority stressed that aspirants often rely heavily on coaching websites while choosing institutes, making transparency essential.

Use of Candidate Images Raises Concerns

The watchdog also flagged the use of candidates’ names and photographs alongside promotional claims. It noted that the institute did not adequately establish authorisation or consent for such usage in a commercial context.

The CCPA emphasised that websites differ from print advertisements because they have global reach and long-term visibility, increasing the impact of misleading claims.

Such digital advertisements, the authority said, can shape perceptions far beyond a limited audience.

Repeat Offence Led to Higher Penalty

The authority took a strict view of the matter, noting that Vision IAS had faced regulatory action for similar violations in the past. Despite earlier warnings, the institute continued to publish comparable claims.

As a result, the CCPA treated the case as a repeat offence and imposed a higher penalty to serve as a deterrent.

Wider Action Against Coaching Institutes

The Vision IAS case forms part of a broader enforcement drive. So far, the CCPA has:

• Issued 57 notices to coaching institutes
• Imposed penalties totalling ₹1.09 crore on 28 entities

The authority has directed all coaching institutes to ensure truthful, clear, and transparent advertising practices, especially when citing examination results.

Message to Aspirants and Parents

The CCPA reiterated that aspirants and parents should carefully verify claims made by coaching institutes and understand the nature of services offered.

The authority said it will continue to monitor advertisements and take strict action against entities that mislead consumers in the education sector.