New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority imposed a Vision IAS penalty of ₹11 lakh on the coaching institute for publishing misleading advertisements related to UPSC Civil Services Examination results for 2022 and 2023.
The Authority said Vision IAS, operated by Ajayvision Education Private Limited, made inflated claims on its official website about the number of successful candidates. These claims included “7 in Top 10 and 79 in Top 100 selections in CSE 2023” and “39 in Top 50 selections in CSE 2022,” supported by photographs, ranks, and names of candidates.
CCPA found that the institute selectively disclosed course details. While it clearly mentioned that Mr. Shubham Kumar, AIR 1 in UPSC CSE 2020, was a classroom student of the GS Foundation Batch, it concealed similar information for other candidates shown on the same webpage.
This omission created a false impression that all featured candidates had enrolled in the GS Foundation Batch. In reality, most had not taken the classroom foundation course. At the same time, the institute promoted its high-fee foundation programme, which cost several lakhs of rupees.
Investigators found that Vision IAS claimed over 119 successful candidates across UPSC CSE 2022 and 2023. However, only three candidates had enrolled in foundation courses. The remaining 116 candidates had opted for test series, Abhyaas tests, or mock interview services.
CCPA flags repeat violation in Vision IAS penalty order
The Authority said the Vision IAS penalty reflected a repeated violation. CCPA noted that it had earlier acted against the institute for similar misleading advertisements. Despite prior regulatory action, Vision IAS continued to publish selective and unverifiable claims.
CCPA also observed that the advertisements used candidates’ names and photographs without clear authorisation or informed consent. Since websites remain accessible globally and for long periods, such claims carry greater influence over aspirants making academic choices.
The Authority stressed that in competitive exams like UPSC, aspirants invest years of effort and significant money. Incomplete disclosures create false expectations about outcomes and coaching effectiveness, which violates Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
So far, CCPA has issued 57 notices to coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. It has imposed penalties totalling ₹1,09,60,000 on 28 institutes and directed them to withdraw false claims.
CCPA reiterated that coaching institutes must ensure truthful and transparent advertising to help students and parents make informed academic decisions.
