Centre Discusses Guidelines To Monitor Misleading Claims By Coaching Institutes
As fraud practices are increasing to lure students and job-seeking candidates in the coaching institutes, the central government is discussing various guidelines to check fake and misleading advertisements. The guidelines that are currently being mooted will apply to both online and physical coaching institutes, and they will also apply to all types of coaching centres, regardless of format or medium.
There have been several cases of scams to coaching institutes where unethical practices have been widely reported in recent times. In the wake of the surging cases, Consumer Affairs Secretary Chief and Commissioner of Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Rohit Kumar Singh held a meeting on Tuesday to prepare guidelines to tackle the misleading ads in the coaching industry. The CCPA in October 2023 had sent notices to 20 IAS coaching centres across the country for their misleading and fake advertisements. The first meeting of CCPA on Monday regarding the preparation of guidelines discussed the draft. The new guidelines will have certain norms and conditions for the coaching institutions to advertise their services, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a statement.
The ministry further informed the punishment for misleading ads by coaching institutions as per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. “Violations of the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 shall continue to be governed under the existing provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019,” the ministry said.
The ministry also said that the coaching centre cannot claim 100% placements: “Coaching institutes shall not make claims of 100% selection or 100% job guaranteed or guaranteed preliminary or mains… The guidelines also provide that coaching institutes shall not make false claims regarding success rates or number of selections and any other practices that may lead to consumer misunderstanding or subvert consumer autonomy and choice.”
It then said that the institute will mention information with the successful candidates” photo, rank secured by the candidate, course opted, duration of the course, and whether it is paid or free. “The font of disclaimer/disclosure/important information in the advertisement shall be the same as that used in the claim/advertisement. The placement of such information shall be at a prominent and visible place in the advertisement,” it added.
However, the committee headed by Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, and Chief Commissioner of CCPA noted the urgency of issuing guidelines to the concerned stakeholders
