CCPA fines IAS coaching centres

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has fined two IAS coaching centres a total of ₹9 lakh for issuing allegedly misleading advertisements related to the results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022, two people said.

- Dhirendra Kumar

It fined Vajirao & Reddy Institute ₹7 lakh and Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study ₹2 lakh. The former said it will appeal the order—the first penalty imposed by the regulator since issuing final guidelines for misleading advertisements by IAS coaching centres on 13 November.

According to the CCPA order, seen by Mint, the coaching centre claimed that 617 out of 933 successful candidates in UPSC CSE 2022 were associated with its programmes and that it held the top position among all UPSC coaching centres in India.

However, a CCPA investigation revealed that all 617 candidates mentioned were only enrolled in the institute’s free interview guidance programme and not in its full coaching services.