NEW DELHI: In rampant malpractice, most IAS coaching institutes claim their “success rate” in UPSC examination by showcasing in their advertisements students who only took mock interviews at their centres and not the full course, the Central Consumer Protection Authority has found.
The magnitude of inflated claims by institutes is huge considering that while 933 candidates were selected in UPSC 2022, advertisements from only 10 coaching institutes claimed that more than 3,500 of their “alumni” were selected.
Taking note of this breach of ethics, the CCPA has issued notices to 17 major IAS coaching institutes over “misleading advertisements”, and imposed Rs 1 lakh fine each on three others. Almost all of these are most known names in this sector. Two institutes have challenged the CCPA action.
The consumer watchdog said the misleading ads influence decision-making by aspiring candidates, and asked the institutes to substantiate their claims and also put out “honest disclosure” about the courses or subjects for which the successful students took coaching from them.
CCPA chief commissioner Nidhi Khare said, “The notices have been issued in the last one-and-half years to the institutes for deliberately concealing important information about their successful students. We are not against advertisements put out by institutes, but they must disclose all details honestly. If there are proper disclosures, there will be less deceiving.”
She said that in response to suo motu notices issued by the CCPA to the coaching institutes seeking details of their claims, most of them replied that the successful candidates highlighted in their ads had taken only mock interviews and the interview guidance programme. The CCPA found that coaching institutes provide this “free of cost as it is in their (institute’s) interest”.
For example, one institute claimed that 682 out of 933 selected in the 2022 UPSC exams were its alumni. However, in response to the CCPA notice, the institute submitted that 673 students had taken only mock interviews and the remaining nine had taken courses like Test Series and General Studies.
Khare said, “No advertisement does mention that the successful candidates took only mock interviews. This creates an impression as if all those who cleared the exam had taken a full course at these institutes, which is misleading.” She added that the misleading ads may prompt aspirants to start thinking that unless they join the advertised institute, they won’t be able to crack competitive exams such as IAS, JEE or NEET.
Officials said the IAS coaching institutes invite shortlisted candidates after the prelims and mains for free mock interview sessions, only to claim them as alumni later. In several cases these mock interviews are barely for a few hours. So, institutes are able to get at least some candidates selected who had only availed of the free mock interview sessions conducted by them.
The magnitude of inflated claims by institutes is huge considering that while 933 candidates were selected in UPSC 2022, advertisements from only 10 coaching institutes claimed that more than 3,500 of their “alumni” were selected.
Taking note of this breach of ethics, the CCPA has issued notices to 17 major IAS coaching institutes over “misleading advertisements”, and imposed Rs 1 lakh fine each on three others. Almost all of these are most known names in this sector. Two institutes have challenged the CCPA action.
The consumer watchdog said the misleading ads influence decision-making by aspiring candidates, and asked the institutes to substantiate their claims and also put out “honest disclosure” about the courses or subjects for which the successful students took coaching from them.
CCPA chief commissioner Nidhi Khare said, “The notices have been issued in the last one-and-half years to the institutes for deliberately concealing important information about their successful students. We are not against advertisements put out by institutes, but they must disclose all details honestly. If there are proper disclosures, there will be less deceiving.”
She said that in response to suo motu notices issued by the CCPA to the coaching institutes seeking details of their claims, most of them replied that the successful candidates highlighted in their ads had taken only mock interviews and the interview guidance programme. The CCPA found that coaching institutes provide this “free of cost as it is in their (institute’s) interest”.
For example, one institute claimed that 682 out of 933 selected in the 2022 UPSC exams were its alumni. However, in response to the CCPA notice, the institute submitted that 673 students had taken only mock interviews and the remaining nine had taken courses like Test Series and General Studies.
Khare said, “No advertisement does mention that the successful candidates took only mock interviews. This creates an impression as if all those who cleared the exam had taken a full course at these institutes, which is misleading.” She added that the misleading ads may prompt aspirants to start thinking that unless they join the advertised institute, they won’t be able to crack competitive exams such as IAS, JEE or NEET.
Officials said the IAS coaching institutes invite shortlisted candidates after the prelims and mains for free mock interview sessions, only to claim them as alumni later. In several cases these mock interviews are barely for a few hours. So, institutes are able to get at least some candidates selected who had only availed of the free mock interview sessions conducted by them.