The National Consumer Protection Council (NCPC) is investigating 20 civil services coaching centres for misleading advertisements. The council has received complaints that these coaching centres are making false promises to students and charging exorbitant fees.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has penalized four civil services coaching centres for misleading advertisements and issued notices to 16 others.
The four coaching centres that have been penalized are
- Rau’s IAS Study Circle
- Chahal Academy
- IQRA IAS
- IAS Baba
Each of these coaching centres has been fined Rs 1 lakh.
The 16 coaching centres that have been issued notices are:
- Vajirao & Reddy Institute
- Chahal Academy
- Khan Study Group IAS
- APTI Plus
- Analog IAS
- Shankar IAS
- Sriram’s IAS
- BYJU’s IAS
- Unacademy
- NEXT IAS
- Drishti IAS
- IQRA IAS
- Vision IAS
- IAS Baba
- Yojana IAS
- Plutus IAS
- ALS IAS
- Rau’s IAS Study Circle
- Dhishti IAS
The CCPA has taken this action against the coaching centres for deliberately concealing important information about successful students. The CCPA Chairperson, Nidhi Khare, said that the notices have been issued in the last one-and-half years and that other cases are under investigation.
Khare also said that usually, several coaching institutes go on an advertising spree after the results of the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam are announced. She added that on average, 900 students clear the UPSC exam every year out of more than 10 lakh students.
This is a positive development and it is expected to deter coaching centres from making misleading advertisements. It is also important to note that no coaching centre can guarantee success in the UPSC exam. Students should do their research and choose a coaching centre that is reputable and has a good track record.
Some of the common complaints against civil services coaching centres include
- False promises of guaranteed success: Many coaching centres claim that they can guarantee success in the civil services exam. However, there is no such thing as a guaranteed success in any competitive exam.
- Exorbitant fees: Civil services coaching centres often charge exorbitant fees for their courses. This makes it difficult for students from low-income families to access quality coaching.
- Misleading information about the exam: Some coaching centres provide misleading information about the civil services exam. This can confuse and mislead students.
The NCPC is investigating these coaching centres and may take action against them if they are found to be violating consumer protection laws.
What students can do to protect themselves
Students can protect themselves from misleading civil services coaching centres by following these tips:
- Do your research: Before enrolling in any coaching centre, do your research and read reviews from other students. This will help you to get a better understanding of the coaching centre’s track record and quality of teaching.
- Be wary of false promises: No coaching centre can guarantee success in the civil services exam. Be wary of any coaching centre that makes such claims.
- Negotiate fees: Civil services coaching centres often charge exorbitant fees. However, you can negotiate the fees with the coaching centre. Many coaching centres are willing to negotiate fees, especially if you are enrolling in a long-term course.
- Get everything in writing: Before enrolling in any coaching centre, get everything in writing, including the fees, the duration of the course, and the curriculum. This will protect you in case of any dispute with the coaching centre.
If you are planning to join a civil services coaching centre, it is important to be aware of the risks involved. Do your research and choose a coaching centre that is reputable and has a good track record. Also, be wary of false promises and negotiate the fees before enrolling.