CCPA imposes ₹2 lakh fine on Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study for misleading ad about UPSC toppers

An IAS coaching institute has been penalized for misleading advertisement about its success rates. Discover what they did wrong.

Updated on: Dec 23, 2024, 08:04:14 IST

By HT Education Desk

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The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has fined Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study ₹2 lakh for misleadingly advertising Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023 toppers.

As per the consumer protection watchdog, the coaching institute published ads without full disclosure of the courses opted by successful candidates. (HT File)

The consumer protection watchdog said that the coaching institute published ads without full disclosure of the courses opted by successful candidates. Further, it added that the terms used in those advertisements gave the impression that Mrs. Shubhra Ranjan is/was an IAS officer.

Also read: CCPA issues guidelines to ensure transparency across coaching sector

According to CCPA, the coaching institute claimed that it had 13 students in the top 100, 28 in the top 200 and 23 in the top 300 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2023.

It added that the advertisements prominently depicted photographs and names of the successful candidates without mentioning any information about the specific course they opted for.

Also read: CCPA fines IAS coaching firm ₹3 lakh for misleading ad

“Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study prominently displayed successful candidate’s names & pictures and simultaneously advertised various types of courses provided by them on its official website. However, the information with respect to the course opted by the said successful candidates in UPSC Civil Service exam 2023 was not disclosed in the abovementioned advertisement,” CCPA said in an official statement.

“…the DG Investigation report found that most of the claimed successful students took Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) crash course & test series which comes into play after clearing Preliminary examination. It is the right of the consumer to be informed about the specific course that successful candidates had taken from the coaching institute to make it into the final selection of CSE. For the potential consumers, this information would have contributed in their making an informed choice about the course to opt for….”

CCPA said the institute deliberately concealed information about specific courses opted by successful candidates to make it look like all its courses had the same success rate.

Also read: Shankar IAS Academy lands in trouble, CCPA imposes ₹5 lakh fine on coaching centre for misleading ads

On the use of misleading terms, CCPA said "Shubhra Ranjan IAS" and "Students of Shubhra Ranjan IAS" gave the impression that Subha Ranjan is or was an IAS officer.

“This constitutes a misrepresentation and unfair trade practice under Consumer Protection Act 2019, thereby misleading the public and potential students into believing that the services or guidance provided by them are directly associated with the credibility of an IAS officer. The Institute submitted that it was a clerical mistake, which is not tenable as the term Shubhra Ranjan IAS or @shubhraranjanias has been frequently used on its letterheads and in its advertisements”.

CCPA has so far issued 45 notices to various coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and imposed penalties of ₹63 lakh 60 thousand on 20 coaching institutes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT Education Desk
For over a decade, the Hindustan Times Digital Streams – Education Desk has been a trusted source for accurate, in-depth, and timely news on education and careers. We bring the latest updates on board exams, competitive exams, results, employment news, study abroad, scholarships, and school and college admissions, helping students, job seekers, and educators make informed decisions. Our Coverage Areas 1. Board Exams & Results: Comprehensive reporting on CBSE, CISCE, and state board exams (UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and others), including schedules, admit cards, answer keys, results, and career opportunities. 2. Competitive Exams: Insights into major exams like UPSC, JEE, NEET, GATE, CAT, SAT, and state and central government services. Exam Results: Timely updates on UPSC, SSC, SBI, IBPS, NTA, IIMs, and other competitive exam results. 3. Employment News: Notifications on government and private sector jobs, vacancies, eligibility, application processes, and results. 4. Study Abroad: Information on top universities, courses, tuition fees, scholarships, visa regulations, and career prospects for international students. Features & Analysis: Opinion pieces, expert explainers, deep-dive reports, and interviews with key figures in education. 5. Breaking Education News: Real-time updates on major policy changes, institutional reforms, and trends shaping the education sector. 6. With a commitment to factual, unbiased journalism, HT Digital’s Education Desk has seen continuous growth in readership, offering credible and engaging content tailored for students, parents, and professionals. Meet the Team 1. Nilesh Mathur – News Editor A journalist with 24 years of experience, including 18+ years at Hindustan Times, Nilesh leads editorial planning, ensures factual accuracy, and enhances audience engagement through strategic content. 2. Papri Chanda – Deputy Chief Content Producer With over a decade of experience in education journalism, Papri specializes in exam-related content, study abroad insights, and education trends. She also explores new opportunities in education that benefit students. 3. Bishal – Senior Content Producer Active in the education and jobs sector since 2019, Bishal focuses on tracking developments, analyzing trends, and crafting informative content for students and job aspirants. 4. Gaurav Sarma – Deputy Chief Content Producer A multimedia journalist with 9+ years of experience, Gaurav is skilled in research-based storytelling, feature writing, and reporting on competitive exams, online courses, and education trends. At Hindustan Times Digital Streams – Education Desk, we strive to be the go-to platform for students and professionals navigating the dynamic world of education and careers.Read More

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