New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹5 lakh on Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.) for releasing misleading advertisements about the results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022.
The CCPA noted that Drishti IAS prominently advertised “216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022” with names and photographs of successful candidates.
However, the investigation revealed that 162 of the 216 candidates (75%) had only attended the institute’s free Interview Guidance Programme (IGP) after independently clearing the preliminary and mains stages of UPSC. Only 54 candidates were enrolled in IGP along with other paid courses.
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This concealment of crucial details misled aspirants and parents into believing that Drishti IAS was responsible for their success in all stages of the examination. The practice was classified as a misleading advertisement under Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Repeat Violation by Drishti IAS
The CCPA emphasized that this is not the first time Drishti IAS has been penalized for such conduct. In September 2024, the institute faced a penalty of ₹3 lakh for its misleading advertisement claiming “150+ selections in UPSC CSE 2021.”
The earlier probe revealed that 148 candidates had only joined the IGP, while very few were enrolled in other paid programs.
Despite the earlier caution and penalty, Drishti IAS repeated the practice in 2022 by inflating its claim to “216+ selections,” indicating non-compliance with consumer protection norms.
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CCPA’s Wider Action Against Coaching Institutes
The Authority has so far issued 54 notices to coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. Penalties exceeding ₹90.6 lakh have been imposed on 26 institutes, directing them to discontinue such misleading claims.
The CCPA reiterated that all coaching institutes, including Drishti IAS, must ensure transparency in advertising and provide truthful information, enabling students and parents to make fair and informed decisions about academic programs.
