Consumer Protection Authority Fines Drishti IAS ₹5 Lakh for Misleading UPSC Advertisement
Penalty Imposed for Concealing Vital Course Information of Successful Candidates in UPSC CSE 2022 Claim
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹5 lakh penalty on Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.) for publishing misleading advertisements claiming “216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022” while concealing that most candidates had only taken its free Interview Guidance Programme (IGP), not the paid courses.
The suo motu case revealed that 162 out of the 216 successful candidates (75%) enrolled only in the free IGP after clearing prelims and mains independently, while only 54 took the IGP along with other paid courses. The CCPA held that by omitting this, Drishti IAS created a misleading impression of its role in all candidates’ success, affecting consumer choice.
Despite Drishti’s arguments about the legitimacy of IGP and voluntary removal of the ads, the authority invoked Sections 20 and 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, directing the institute to pay the penalty and submit a compliance report within 15 days. The Authority recalled an earlier ₹3 lakh penalty on Drishti for similar advertising claims in 2021 and emphasized the importance of transparency in consumer decision-making for coaching courses.