CCPA fines Drishti IAS ₹5 lakh for misleading UPSC 2022 result advertisements
CCPA imposes ₹5 lakh fine on Drishti IAS for misleading UPSC 2022 result ads, citing repeated violations of consumer protection norms.
New Delhi, October 3, 2025 - The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has levied a penalty of ₹5 lakh on Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.) for publishing misleading advertisements related to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2022 results.
Drishti IAS had advertised "216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022," prominently displaying the names and photographs of successful candidates. However, CCPA's investigation found that the majority of these candidates had only participated in the institute's free Interview Guidance Programme (IGP), after clearing both the Preliminary and Mains stages independently. Of the 216 candidates, 162 (75%) were IGP-only participants, while just 54 had enrolled in IGP along with other paid courses.
The Authority ruled that this concealment of crucial information created a misleading impression that Drishti IAS had guided candidates throughout the entire UPSC process, thereby violating Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
This is not the first instance of such misconduct. In September 2024, CCPA imposed a ₹3 lakh penalty on the same institute for a similar advertisement claiming "150+ selections in UPSC CSE 2021." At that time, most candidates were also found to have taken only the interview guidance course. Despite the warning and penalty, Drishti IAS repeated the practice with inflated claims for 2022.
The CCPA emphasized that such misleading advertisements deprive students and parents of their right to make informed decisions under Section 2(9) of the Act. By creating false expectations and exaggerating success rates, these campaigns unfairly influence consumer choices in the highly competitive coaching sector.
So far, the CCPA has issued 54 notices to coaching institutes for misleading advertisements, imposing penalties of over ₹90.6 lakh on 26 institutions. The regulator has reiterated that all coaching centers must ensure transparency and accuracy in their advertisements to uphold consumer rights.
The order serves as a warning to coaching institutes across India to maintain integrity and avoid practices that mislead aspirants seeking guidance for one of the country's toughest examinations.
