New Delhi, October 3, 2025 — The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹5,00,000 on the well-known UPSC coaching institute Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.) for publishing a misleading advertisement related to the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2022 results.
What the Advertisement Claimed
The advertisement claimed that Drishti IAS was responsible for the success of 216+ candidates in the UPSC 2022 exam. The ad also featured names and photographs of selected candidates, giving an impression that they were full-time students of the institute.
What the Investigation Found
According to the CCPA probe:
Out of the 216 candidates mentioned, 162 were only part of the institute’s free Interview Guidance Program (IGP). These students had already cleared their prelims and mains independently before joining Drishti IAS for interview practice.
Only 54 students were actually enrolled in paid classroom or regular courses.
The advertisement failed to make this crucial distinction, which misled aspirants and parents.
The authority concluded that the advertisement violated Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which defines and prohibits misleading advertisements.
Repeat Offense
This is not the first time action has been taken against the institute.
In September 2024, Drishti IAS was fined ₹3 lakh for a misleading claim about “150+ selections in UPSC CSE 2021.”
The recurrence of such practices prompted the CCPA to take stronger action this time.
Wider Action on Coaching Institutes
The CCPA has also sent notices to 54 coaching institutes across the country for misleading advertisements. So far, penalties totaling ₹90.6 lakh have been imposed on 26 institutes.
Officials have warned that coaching centers must ensure transparency, factual accuracy, and verifiable claims in advertisements to protect students and parents from being misled.
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