The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹3 lakh penalty on Sriram’s IAS for misleading advertisements related to their claimed results in the UPSC Civil Services Exam 2022. The CCPA determined that of the more than 200 selections the institute advertised, only 171 candidates were actually selected. The authority, led by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra, issued an order instructing Sriram’s IAS to immediately stop these misleading advertisements.
The investigation revealed that the coaching institute failed to disclose crucial details about the specific courses attended by successful candidates. This omission misled consumers into believing that all successful candidates had completed paid courses offered by Sriram’s IAS. In reality, many of these candidates participated in free programs like the Interview Guidance Programme (IGP) and test series, which were not properly highlighted in the ads.
According to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, withholding significant information in advertisements is classified as misleading. The CCPA noted that most of the successful candidates had already cleared critical stages like the Prelims and Mains on their own before joining any of Sriram’s IAS programs, further reducing the institute’s contribution to their success.
Smt. Nidhi Khare stressed that advertisements must be truthful, clear, and prominently display essential information to enable consumers to make informed decisions. The CCPA’s action highlights the importance of consumer rights and the responsibility of advertisers to present accurate and transparent information.
