Khan Study Group (KSG) has reportedly paid the ₹5 lakh fine imposed by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) earlier this month. The penalty was slapped on KSG for engaging in misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices, as per a report by Times of India.
The coaching institute had claimed that 682 out of the 933 selected candidates in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022, including the top five rank holders, were their students. The CCPA, in its official statement, highlighted the institute’s assertions, stating, “Every year when Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) Civil Services Exam result comes out, various IAS coaching institutes start an advertisement blitzkrieg claiming successful candidates to be their students.”
The CCPA accused KSG of using pictures and names of toppers without disclosing essential information such as the courses opted for, fees paid, or the duration of the attended courses. This was part of a broader investigation into misleading ads and unfair trade practices by coaching institutes, with notices issued to several prominent names in the industry.
In October, the CCPA had revealed an ongoing probe into 20 coaching institutes, resulting in fines of ₹1 lakh each for three centers – Rau’s IAS Study Circle, Chahal Academy, and IQRA IAS. The investigation aimed to address the deliberate concealment of important information about successful students, with penalties imposed on four centers so far.
The move by consumer watchdogs signals a commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the competitive exam coaching industry. As coaching institutes face scrutiny, the focus remains on providing accurate information to prospective aspirants, free from misleading claims and practices.
