IAS institute fined Rs 1 lakh for misleading testimonials of rank holders

New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on IQRA IAS Institute for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. The CCPA found that the institute had falsely claimed that the top-rank holders of the UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE) in 2015 and 2017 were its students, even though the institute was established in 2018.

The CCPA also found that the institute had declared itself as the only coaching academy to have the best faculty from all around India for providing the best UPSC online prelims test series in 2020, which was also found to be false.

The CCPA order stated that the institute’s misleading advertisements were “likely to mislead consumers into believing that such successful candidates owe their success to said institution.” The order also stated that the institute’s failure to disclose the fact that it was established in 2018 and that the testimonials were from students who had taken the UPSC CSE in 2015 and 2017, constituted unfair trade practice.

The CCPA order has been welcomed by consumer rights activists, who said that it sends a strong message to businesses that misleading advertisements will not be tolerated. In a statement, the CCPA said that it is “committed to protecting the rights of consumers and will take strong action against businesses that engage in misleading or unfair trade practices.”

The CCPA order is a reminder to businesses that they must be careful about the claims they make in their advertisements. Businesses should ensure that their advertisements are truthful and accurate and that they do not mislead consumers.

The CCPA order also highlights the importance of consumer education. Consumers should be aware of the potential for misleading advertisements and should be able to identify them. If you see a misleading advertisement, you can report it to the CCPA.