The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken a strong regulatory step by imposing a fine of ₹5 lakh on Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.) for publishing misleading advertisements about its performance in the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022. This decision underscores the rising intolerance for promotional claims that distort facts and mislead students and parents. Live Law+2Moneycontrol+2
What Did Drishti IAS Claim — and Why Was It Misleading?
In promotional materials, Drishti boldly asserted “216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022”, accompanied by photos and names of alleged successful candidates. On close examination, however, CCPA found that a substantial portion of those candidates did not enroll in the institute’s full coaching programs. Instead, 162 out of the 216 (approximately 75 %) had only participated in the free Interview Guidance Programme (IGP)—after having already independently cleared the Preliminary and Mains stages. Only 54 students had taken paid or full courses through Drishti for other stages. Live Law+1
By failing to disclose this distinction, Drishti IAS created a false impression that it had guided all 216 aspirants across all exam stages—effectively claiming undue credit for their successes. Such concealment runs counter to Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which deems an advertisement misleading if it hides essential information. Live Law+1
Precedent: A Pattern of Repeated Violations
This is not Drishti’s first run-in with CCPA over misleading advertisements. In September 2024, the authority had already penalized the institute ₹3 lakh for claiming “150+ selections in UPSC CSE 2021” — a claim similarly found to be inflated. In that case, a heavy proportion of the names cited were linked to Drishti’s free IGP program rather than full coaching courses. Live Law+1
Given this repeat violation, the CCPA’s latest ₹5 lakh penalty also reflects a stricter stance against repeat offenders. Live Law+1
Broader Crackdown on Coaching Institutes
Drishti’s case fits into a larger regulatory push. The CCPA has issued notices to 20 IAS coaching institutions over suspected unfair trade practices and misleading promotional claims. ETLegalWorld.com+2Asianet Newsable+2
For instance, Sriram’s IAS was recently fined ₹3 lakh for exaggerating selection numbers and failing to differentiate between courses opted by successful candidates. Hindustan Times+1
Similarly, several coaching institutes—including Vajirao & Reddy, StudyIQ IAS, and Edge IAS—have been penalized for using names of toppers, withholding course details, and presenting a misleading picture of their contribution to candidates’ successes. International Business Times
What This Means for Aspirants
- Transparency is key: Coaching institutes must clearly state which students took full programs, test series, or just interview guidance.
- Informed decision-making: Prospective students and parents should verify claims, request details of course enrollment, and check audit reports or official disclosures.
- Regulatory teeth: The CCPA’s enforcement shows that consumer protection in education is being taken more seriously. False claims are no longer mere marketing exaggerations—they can attract legal and financial consequences.
Related News
- Drishti IAS Penalised With Rs 5 Lakh Fine For Misleading UPSC Result Advertisement
- CCPA issues notices to 20 IAS coaching institutes for misleading advertising
- CCPA slaps fine on 3 coaching institutes for misleading ads (Vajirao & Reddy, StudyIQ, Edge)
- Sriram’s IAS fined ₹3 lakh for exaggerated UPSC claims
- CCPA fines Rs 2 lakh on Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study for misleading UPSC 2023 claims
Acknowledgment: This article is built on publicly available reports from Moneycontrol, LiveLaw, Economic Times, Deccan Chronicle, Hindustan Times and others. All facts are rephrased to avoid copyright issues and ensure originality.
