Coaching Institute Accused of Misrepresenting UPSC Civil Services Results
New Delhi, February 23: The Central Consumer Protection Authority has imposed a penalty of ₹15 lakh on Delhi based Vajirao and Reddy Institute for publishing misleading advertisements related to the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2023 results.The action follows findings that the institute claimed credit for candidates who cleared the examination, even though many of them had enrolled only for mock interview sessions and not for comprehensive preparation across all stages.
Claims of 645 Selections Under Scrutiny
Shortly after the UPSC CSE 2023 results were declared on April 16, 2024, the institute stated on its official website that it had secured over 645 selections out of 1,016 vacancies. It further claimed that six candidates were in the Top 10 All India Rank and 35 were in the Top 50 All India Rank.These claims were displayed alongside advertisements for the institute’s regular courses. According to the authority, this presentation created the impression that the successful candidates had undergone full training with the institute for the Preliminary, Mains, and Interview stages of the examination.
Enrolment Records Reveal Limited Association
Upon examining enrolment records submitted by the institute, the Central Consumer Protection Authority found that a significant number of candidates had enrolled only in the Interview Guidance Programme or for Mock Interview sessions. These candidates had already independently cleared the Preliminary and Mains stages before approaching the institute.In addition, 431 enrolment forms lacked clarity regarding the course enrolled in or the date of submission. The institute also failed to provide fee receipts or supporting documents to substantiate its claims.
The authority stated that the non disclosure of such information created a misleading impression that the candidates were trained by the institute across all stages of the examination.
Repeat Violation Leads to Higher Penalty
This is not the first regulatory action against Vajirao and Reddy Institute. The institute was earlier penalized ₹7 lakh for similar violations in advertisements related to the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 results.Considering the recurrence, the authority treated the matter as a subsequent violation and imposed a higher penalty of ₹15 lakh.
Scale of Impact Raises Concern
With nearly 11 lakh candidates applying for civil services examinations each year, the authority highlighted the potential scale of harm. Students and families invest substantial time and financial resources based on promotional claims that may not present a complete or accurate picture.The Central Consumer Protection Authority has issued 57 notices so far to coaching institutes across the country for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. Penalties amounting to more than ₹1.24 crore have been imposed on 29 institutes to date.
The latest action signals continued regulatory scrutiny over advertising practices in the highly competitive coaching sector.
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