 |
|
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has levied a ₹5 lakh penalty on Shankar IAS Academy for disseminating deceptive advertisements related to the 2022 UPSC Civil Service Exam. The CCPA, led by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, deemed the academy's promotional materials to be misleading and in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The CCPA's action underscores its commitment to safeguarding consumer rights and preventing false or misleading advertisements.
Shankar IAS Academy's advertisement boasted of a high number of successful candidates in the 2022 UPSC Civil Service Exam, stating that 336 out of 933 selections at the All India level were from the academy, with 40 candidates in the Top 100 and 42 candidates clearing from Tamil Nadu, of whom 37 studied at the academy. The advertisement also claimed Shankar IAS Academy was the 'Best IAS Academy in India'.
However, the CCPA's investigation revealed that Shankar IAS Academy deliberately concealed crucial information regarding the courses taken by the advertised successful candidates. The academy only provided details of 333 successful candidates out of the claimed 336, and the majority of these candidates had participated in free interview guidance programs, while a much smaller number had taken paid courses like mains test series, prelims test series, or combined prelims and mains courses. The concealed information created a misleading impression that all the successful candidates had taken the advertised paid courses, thus misrepresenting the academy's role in their success.
Source: Shankar IAS Academy fined Rs 5 Lakh by CCPA over ‘misleading ads’