Pune: Coaching Institute Fined Rs 3 Lakh for Misleading IIT-JEE Rank Advertisements
Reported By Amit Singh
Pune, 15 February 2025: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a ₹3 lakh penalty on IITian’s Prashikshan Kendra Pvt. Ltd. (IITPK) for misleading advertisements regarding student rankings and success rates. The regulatory body directed the coaching institute to immediately discontinue its advertisements and submit a compliance report within 15 days.
The action was taken under Sections 20 and 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, following an investigation into claims made by IITPK in newspapers and on its official website. The institute had advertised a “1384 IIT Ranks in past 21 years”, “IITPK students crack all 2023 exams”, and “Highest success ratio year after year”, among other statements. It also used bold “1” and “2” symbols next to student names, implying they had secured top national ranks.
Investigation Findings
The Director General (Investigation) submitted a report revealing discrepancies in IITPK’s claims. The findings included:
Misrepresentation of Student Rankings: The institute used “1” and “2” prominently in advertisements, but the ranks applied only within the institute and not at the national level.
Unverified Success Claims: The “1384 IIT Ranks” list contained names of students from NITs, IIITs, and private institutions, rather than exclusively IITs.
Lack of Documentation: IITPK failed to provide attendance records, admission details, and verified fee receipts to support its claims.
Exaggerated Exam Success Rates: The advertisement “IITPK students crack all 2023 exams” did not specify which exams were included or provide supporting data.
Changes to Advertisements: After the investigation began, IITPK modified some claims on its website, replacing “Highest success ratio” with “Unmatched success ratio” and altering other wording.
CCPA’s Directives
The CCPA determined that IITPK’s advertisements misled consumers and violated Section 2(9) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which ensures consumers’ right to be informed. The authority directed the institute to:
1. Cease all misleading advertisements immediately.
2. Pay a penalty of ₹3 lakh.
3. Submit a compliance report within 15 days.
The regulatory body cited the large number of students preparing for IIT-JEE as a key factor in its decision, stating that such misleading claims could impact thousands of aspiring candidates and their parents.
