Vision IAS Fined ₹11 Lakh by CCPA for Misleading Advertisement

New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), the government body under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, has imposed a fine of ₹11 lakh on Vision IAS (Ajay Vision Education Pvt. Ltd.) for publishing misleading advertisements on its website. The action comes under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and relates to the results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022 and 2023.

Misleading Claims Highlighted
According to the CCPA, Vision IAS advertised claims such as:

• “7 out of Top 10 and 79 out of Top 100 in CSE 2023”
• “39 out of Top 50 in CSE 2022”

The advertisements prominently displayed names, photographs, and ranks of successful candidates. However, investigations revealed that most of these candidates were not enrolled in the Foundation Classroom Course, contrary to the impression created. Only 3 out of 119+ successful candidates had actually joined the foundation course; the rest had taken test series, mock interviews, or single-session programs. By withholding this information, Vision IAS misled students and parents into believing that the institute was responsible for the success of all these candidates.

Digital Advertising Adds to Misrepresentation
The CCPA noted that the misleading content was online, making it accessible globally and permanently. Unlike print media, such digital advertisements can influence a wide audience over an extended period, making informed research and decision-making difficult for prospective students.

Repeat Offense Leads to Hefty Fine
This is not the first time Vision IAS has faced action for misleading advertisements. Despite prior warnings and regulatory interventions, the institute continued making exaggerated claims. Given the repeated violations, CCPA treated this as a subsequent offense and imposed a higher penalty in the interest of consumer protection.

Broader Regulatory Action
So far, CCPA has issued 57 notices to coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. 28 institutes have been fined ₹1.09 crore collectively and instructed to remove false claims. The authority emphasized that all coaching institutes must ensure truthful and transparent disclosures in their promotional content to protect students from being misled.