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CCPA Imposes ₹7 Lakh Penalty on Vajiram & Ravi Over Misleading UPSC Result Claims

CCPA Imposes ₹7 Lakh Penalty on Vajiram & Ravi

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution – PIB Release Dated 30.05.2026

Authority CCPA (Central Consumer Protection Authority)

Target Institute Vajiram and Ravi IAS Study Centre LLP

Penalty Amount ₹7,00,000

Reason Misleading UPSC Ads

Penalty

₹7 Lakh
Imposed by CCPA

Violation

Consumer Protection
Act 2019

Issue

Concealed Info
Free vs Paid Course

The Claim vs The Reality

CCPA investigated the institute's claims regarding UPSC CSE 2023 results:

Claim: "8 Rank Holders in the Top 10 are from Vajiram & Ravi"

Finding: 7 out of 8 candidates had enrolled only in the free Interview Guidance Programme.

Claim: "37 Rank Holders in the Top 50 are from Vajiram & Ravi"

Finding: 29 out of 37 candidates had enrolled only in the free Interview Guidance Programme.

Claim: "More than 30% selected are students of Vajiram & Ravi"

Finding: In 2023, 97.56% of successful candidates enrolled in the free Interview Guidance Programme, not paid coaching.

Why is it Misleading?

The CCPA observed that by prominently featuring successful candidates (who attended free programs) alongside advertisements for comprehensive paid coaching programmes—without disclosing the specific course opted for—the institute created a misleading impression that these candidates were products of its full-length paid programmes.

Legal Basis: Non-disclosure of specific course details (Paid vs Free) deprives prospective consumers of the ability to make an informed choice, violating the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the penalty imposed?

The penalty was imposed for misleading advertisement and deliberate concealment of material information regarding the nature of the courses attended by successful candidates (who mostly attended free programs).

What is the "Interview Guidance Programme"?

It is a programme that commences only after a candidate has independently cleared both the Preliminary and Mains stages of the UPSC CSE. The institute had no academic contribution to these stages.

How much has CCPA penalized coaching institutes so far?

CCPA has imposed penalties amounting to over ₹1.46 crore on various coaching institutes for unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.

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