CCPA fines Dikshant IAS and Abhimanu IAS ₹8 lakh each for misleading UPSC ads

In a strong action to protect consumer rights in the education sector, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalties of ₹8 lakh each on two prominent civil services coaching institutes, Dikshant IAS and Abhimanu IAS, for issuing misleading advertisements, engaging in unfair trade practices, and violating the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

The authority, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, acted upon complaints from UPSC toppers whose names and photographs were used without consent in advertisements claiming the institutes’ credit for their success. The CCPA observed that such misleading promotions exploited aspirants’ trust and violated the right to truthful and accurate information guaranteed under the Act.

Dikshant IAS: Inflated claims and hidden facts The case began when Ms. Mini Shukla (AIR 96, UPSC 2021) complained that Dikshant IAS used her name and photo without permission, despite her never being a student there. The institute claimed “200+ results in UPSC CSE 2021” but could only produce 116 enrolment records. It also failed to show proof of any partnership with Chahal Academy, with whom it claimed to have jointly conducted interview programmes.

CCPA found that Dikshant IAS misled students by implying that it was responsible for candidates’ entire UPSC success while hiding the limited nature of their engagement, such as mock interviews. The authority ruled that this violated Sections 2(28) and 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act for concealing material information and issuing false advertisements.

Abhimanu IAS: Fabricated endorsements and false records Similarly, Abhimanu IAS was found guilty of using the name and photograph of Ms. Natasha Goyal (AIR 175, UPSC 2022) without authorization. The institute had only shared a mock interview question bank with her, yet publicly claimed her as its student.

Further investigation revealed that Abhimanu IAS exaggerated its track record with claims like “2200+ selections since inception” and “10+ top-10 IAS ranks,” without any credible evidence. Many of the cited top ranks were over a decade old, and most students had only participated in interview guidance sessions. CCPA held that such omissions created a false perception of current performance, unfairly influencing students’ choices.

A wake-up call for the coaching industry The CCPA said misleading ads in education are especially harmful as aspirants invest time, money, and emotions based on false claims. It urged UPSC toppers to report misuse of their names or photos by coaching centres. While the action is laudable, the fine imposed is too small compared to the crores these institutes earn through such deceptive promotions.

So far, the CCPA has issued 57 notices to coaching institutes for similar violations and imposed penalties exceeding ₹98.6 lakh on 27 institutions. The authority reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the booming coaching industry.