New Delhi – The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹8 lakh each on two prominent civil services coaching institutes — DiKshaant IAS and Abhimanyu IAS — for publishing misleading advertisements and violating consumer rights.
The action followed complaints from successful UPSC candidates who alleged that the institutes used their names and photographs without consent in promotional materials, falsely claiming credit for their examination success.
Complaints from Successful Candidates Trigger Probe
The CCPA received complaints from Mini Shukla (AIR 96, UPSC CSE 2021) and Natasha Goel (AIR 175, UPSC CSE 2022), who said that their names and images were used in advertisements by the respective coaching centres despite having no formal association with them.
Mini Shukla clarified that she had only participated in a mock interview at Chahal Academy, which she later learned was conducted jointly with Dikshaant IAS. Despite this limited interaction, Dikshaant IAS ran advertisements claiming “200 results in UPSC CSE 2021” and featured her photograph prominently.
Institutes Fail to Substantiate Their Claims
During the inquiry, the CCPA found that Dikshaant IAS failed to provide credible documentation to back its claims.
The institute could produce only 116 enrolment forms to support its assertion of “200 results,” and it could not furnish any formal agreement or evidence proving that its programs were jointly run with Chahal Academy or that students were informed about such collaboration.
The investigation also revealed that Dikshaant IAS had concealed critical information about the specific courses taken by successful candidates, misleading potential aspirants into believing the institute was instrumental in their achievements.
Abhimanyu IAS Case Mirrors Similar Violations
In a similar instance, Abhimanyu IAS was penalized after Natasha Goel complained that the institute falsely portrayed her as its student and used her name and image in marketing materials without consent.
The CCPA deemed this conduct a violation of Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which prohibits misleading trade practices and false endorsements.
Consumer Authority’s Statement
Issuing the order, Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupama Mishra stated:
“Such exaggerated and deceptive claims not only breach consumer rights but also mislead thousands of aspirants who invest significant time, money, and trust in their preparation.”
They added that the penalties were intended to ensure accountability and deter educational institutions from engaging in similar conduct in the future.
A Message to the Coaching Industry
The crackdown comes at a time when India’s booming civil services coaching industry, worth thousands of crores, faces increasing scrutiny over false success claims and unverified endorsements.
Experts say the CCPA’s action sends a strong regulatory message — that consumer rights and truthful representation apply equally to the education sector, particularly in high-stakes domains like UPSC coaching.
