CCPA : A total of 46 notices have been issued to various coaching institutes so far.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹3 lakh penalty on IITian’s Prashikshan Kendra Pvt. Ltd. (IITPK) for publishing misleading advertisements regarding IIT-JEE results. This decision aligns with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which prohibits false or deceptive advertisements of goods and services.
Crackdown on Misleading Advertisements
So far, CCPA has issued 46 notices to various coaching institutes for misleading promotions. A total penalty of ₹77.6 lakh has been imposed on 24 coaching institutes, with strict orders to discontinue deceptive advertisements.
The CCPA, led by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra, took action against IITPK after identifying multiple instances of misrepresentation aimed at influencing students’ enrollment decisions.
Key Findings Against IITPK
1. False Representation of National-Level Toppers
IITPK’s advertisements prominently featured titles like “IIT Topper” and “NEET Topper” along with bold numbers ‘1’ and ‘2’ next to student names and photos. This created a false impression that these students had secured All India Ranks (AIR) when, in reality, they were just toppers within the institute itself. This misleading claim targeted students (aged 14-17) and their parents, influencing their choice of coaching based on inaccurate success portrayals.
2. Misleading IIT Rank Claims
The institute claimed, “1384 IIT Ranks in the past 21 years by IITPK,” implying that all 1384 students had secured admission into IITs. However, upon investigation, CCPA discovered that the list also included students admitted to other institutions, such as IIITs, NITs, BITS, Manipal University, VIT Vellore, PICT Pune, MIT Pune, and VIT Pune. The advertisement’s wording falsely suggested exclusive IIT admissions, thereby exaggerating IITPK’s success rate.
3. Inflated Success Ratio Claims
IITPK promoted claims like “Highest success ratio year after year,” “Best success ratio for 21 years,” and “Success Ratio at 61%” without providing any supporting data, third-party verification, or comparative analysis. These statements misled students and parents into believing that 61% of students secured IIT admissions, when in fact, no clarification was offered in the advertisements. The institute later argued that explanations were provided in webinars and counseling sessions, but since the misleading claims were made in advertisements, this defense was deemed inadequate.
CCPA’s Action and Justification
The CCPA found that IITPK deliberately concealed crucial details that could have helped students make informed decisions. Given the vulnerable nature of students and parents in the competitive coaching industry, CCPA imposed the penalty to curb misleading practices and ensure transparency in educational advertisements.