Shankar IAS Academy Fined for Misleading Ads: A Closer Look

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) fined Shankar IAS Academy Rs 500,000 for misleading advertisements regarding the 2022 civil service exam. The advertisements falsely claimed high success rates and concealed course details. The investigation revealed most successful candidates attended free or short-term programs rather than full courses.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has slapped a Rs 500,000 fine on Shankar IAS Academy for deceptive advertisements concerning the 2022 civil service exam, the regulatory body announced on Sunday.

Led by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare, the CCPA determined that the coaching institute made false assertions regarding its success rate and the types of courses its successful candidates had undertaken.

Shankar IAS Academy's advertisement for the 2022 UPSC Civil Service exam boasted ''336 selections out of 933 at All India Level'', ''40 candidates in Top 100'', and touted ''2 candidates who cleared from Tamil Nadu''. The institution also self-proclaimed as the ''Best IAS Academy in India''.

The CCPA investigation discovered that the academy ''deliberately concealed'' details about the specific courses taken by the purported successful candidates.

'This practice consequently attracts consumers into buying paid courses advertised by the coaching institutes,' stated the CCPA in an official statement.

The investigation further uncovered that out of the 336 claimed successful candidates, 221 had only attended a free interview guidance program. Others were involved in various short-term or specific exam components rather than full courses.

The academy even claimed credit for candidates who purchased preliminary exam courses post the 2022 exam, likely in preparation for subsequent tests.

The CCPA emphasized that over 1 million candidates apply annually for the prestigious civil services exam, making UPSC aspirants a vulnerable consumer group.

This action forms part of a broader crackdown on misleading advertisements by coaching institutes, with the CCPA issuing notices to numerous organizations for similar practices.

The regulator stressed the need for transparency in the information about courses taken by successful candidates to enable consumers to make informed decisions when selecting coaching programs.

(With inputs from agencies.)