The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹Shankar IAS Academy has been fined $500,000 for misleading advertisements related to the 2022 civil services exam, the regulator said on Sunday.
The CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, found that the training institute made false claims about its success rate and the nature of courses taken by successful candidates.
In its advertisement for the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022, Shankar IAS Academy claimed “336 selections out of 933 at All India level”, “40 candidates in the top 100” and “2 candidates passed from Tamil Nadu, out of which 37 studied at Shankar IAS Academy”. The institute also promoted itself as the “Best IAS Academy in India”.
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However, the CCPA found that Shankar IAS Academy “deliberately concealed” information about the specific courses taken by the successful candidates it advertised.
“This practice consequently attracts consumers to purchase paid courses advertised by training institutes,” the CCPA said in a statement.
The regulator’s investigation found that of the 336 candidates who claimed to have been approved, 221 had only taken a free interview guidance programme, while others participated in several components of specific or short-term exams rather than full courses, it said.
The academy also took credit for candidates who purchased preliminary exam courses after the 2022 exam had already been held, likely in preparation for the following year’s test.
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The CCPA noted that over 1 million candidates sit for the prestigious civil services exam annually, making UPSC aspirants a vulnerable consumer class.
The move is part of a broader crackdown on misleading advertising by coaching institutes, with the CCPA having issued notices to numerous organisations for similar practices.
The regulator stressed the importance of having transparent information on the courses taken by successful candidates, allowing consumers to make informed decisions when selecting training programs.
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