In a landmark move to protect aspiring civil servants, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has rolled out new and stringent guidelines targeting IAS coaching institutes. These rules, which are effective immediately, aim to crackdown on misleading advertisements and bring greater accountability to the coaching sector.
The “Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector, 2024” hold IAS coaching centres accountable for making false claims about course duration, success rates, and other services. For years, many institutes misled students by promising fast-track courses or unrealistically high success rates, only to leave them disillusioned and financially burdened. The new guidelines require coaching institutes to provide clear, accurate information about course duration, expected learning outcomes, and other important details.
A major change under these guidelines is the mandate for coaching institutes to issue refunds if they fail to deliver the services promised in their advertisements. This move is designed to protect students from deceptive practices and ensure they receive the value they were promised. Additionally, coaching institutes will now be required to enter into formal agreements with aspirants, ensuring their credentials can only be used for advertising once they have successfully cleared the exam. This will give candidates more leverage and control over their own success stories.
The guidelines also target misleading promotions of “free interview guidance” and similar offers. Institutes will now be required to clearly state the terms and conditions of such offers, ensuring students are not misled by vague promises. Nidhi Khare, Secretary of Consumer Affairs, highlighted the importance of these new rules in managing students’ expectations, stating that students should no longer be misled by unsubstantiated claims.
Beyond success rates, the guidelines emphasize the need for transparent advertising. Coaching institutes must now provide verifiable data about their success rates, including detailed information about the course name, duration, rank secured by candidates, and photos, making their claims verifiable and accountable. Institutes must also display important disclaimers in the same font size as the claims made, ensuring transparency.
Moreover, the guidelines ensure that coaching centres clearly represent their facilities, resources, and infrastructure. Institutes must disclose whether their courses are approved by recognized bodies such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), guaranteeing credibility and quality assurance.
Manish K Shubhay, a partner at The Precept-Law Offices, praised the guidelines, stating, “This new rulebook will be a game-changer, serving justice for the lakhs of civil service aspirants who have been cheated by misleading practices. It’s a long-overdue move to ensure that students get what they were promised.”
These guidelines are expected to have a profound effect on the IAS coaching industry, especially in Delhi, which is considered the epicenter of civil services coaching. With coaching institutes now required to adhere to ethical advertising and transparent business practices, the industry will likely undergo significant changes.
The CCPA has already initiated actions against several coaching institutes that have violated consumer rights with deceptive advertisements. This proactive approach reflects the government’s commitment to maintaining fairness in the education sector. The guidelines are a much-needed step toward ensuring ethical business practices, protecting students from exploitation, and promoting transparency within the highly competitive world of IAS coaching.
