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New Delhi, September 01, 2024: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued an Order against Shankar IAS Academy for misleading advertisement regarding UPSC Civil Service Exam 2022.
The CCPA has imposed penalty of ₹ 5 lakh for misleading advertisement on Shankar IAS Academy, Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a statement.
The decision was taken to protect & promote the rights of consumers as a class and ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made of any goods or services which contravenes the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, it said.
The CCPA is headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra.
CCPA also issues order against Shankar IAS Academy to discontinue the misleading advertisement with immediate effect.
Section 18 of the Act empowers CCPA that it shall ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made in respect of any goods or services which contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder.
Shankar IAS Academy in its advertisement claimed with respect to UPSC Civil Service exam 2022- that 336 selections out of 933 at All India Level, 40 candidates in Top 100, 42 candidates have cleared from Tamil Nadu, of which 37 studied at Shankar IAS Academy and is Best IAS Academy in India.
The CCPA found out that Shankar IAS Academy advertised various types of courses but the information with respect to the course opted by the advertised successful candidates in above mentioned UPSC Civil Service exams results was deliberately concealed in the advertisement.
This has the effect of consumers falsely believing that all the successful candidates so claimed by the Institute had opted for the paid courses advertised by the Institute on its website.
In other words, this practice consequently attract consumers into buying paid courses advertised by the coaching institutes.
Shankar IAS Academy in its response submitted the details of only 333 successful candidates against its claim of 336 plus selections in UPSC CSE 2022. Out of 336 claimed students, 221 took Free Interview Guidance Programme, 71 took Mains Test Series, 35 took Prelims Test Series, 12 took General Studies Prelims cum Mains, 4 took Prelims Test Series with Some other mains course (optional and/or GS).
This fact was not disclosed in their advertisement, thereby deceiving consumers. By concealing this important fact, such false & misleading advertisement creates huge impact on those consumers who are UPSC aspirants without letting them know that Shankar IAS Academy role in candidates’ success. Thus, the advertisement has violated the consumer’s right to be informed so as to protect itself against unfair trade practice, the statement said.
The CCPA observed that same successful candidates were claimed by several coaching institutes without disclosing the courses opted by such candidates & length of the course so attended to mislead prospective aspirants (consumers).
