CCPA Slaps ₹8 Lakh Fine Each on Dikshant & Abhimanu IAS for Misleading Ads
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalties of ₹8 lakh each on two prominent UPSC coaching institutes – Dikshant IAS and Abhimanu IAS – for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices that violated the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Key Takeaways
- Both institutes used candidates’ names and photos without consent
- Dikshant IAS falsely claimed “200+ Results” with limited student association
- Abhimanu IAS made unsubstantiated claims about selections and rankings
- CCPA has imposed over ₹98.6 lakh penalties on 27 coaching institutes so far
Dikshant IAS Case Details
The action followed complaints from successful UPSC candidates whose names and photographs were used without authorization. Mini Shukla (AIR 96, UPSC CSE 2021) reported that Dikshant IAS used her identity in promotional material despite her having only attended a mock interview at Chahal Academy, which she later discovered was jointly organized with Dikshant IAS.
The institute claimed “200+ Results in UPSC CSE 2021” but could produce only 116 enrollment forms. The CCPA found that Dikshant IAS deliberately concealed that candidates’ association was limited to interview stages while taking full credit for their overall success.
“The advertisements deliberately concealed crucial details about the courses undertaken by successful candidates. This omission created a false impression that Dikshant IAS had contributed to their overall UPSC preparation, whereas their association was limited to the interview stage,” the CCPA said.
Abhimanu IAS Violations
In a similar case, Natasha Goyal (AIR 175, UPSC CSE 2022) revealed that Abhimanu IAS falsely claimed her as its student and used her name and photograph without authorization. Evidence showed the institute had shared a question bank for a mock interview that was never conducted.
The CCPA investigation exposed multiple misleading claims:
- “2200+ Selections since Inception” – unsubstantiated with no evidence produced
- “10+ Selections in IAS Top 10” – mostly dated back to 2001-2012, with only two in 2018
- “1st Rank in HCS/PCS/HAS” – featured without proper context
Of 139 claimed selections in 2023, 88 students had cleared Prelims and Mains without any assistance from Abhimanu IAS. The institute had merely provided mock interviews or question banks.
Consumer Rights Protection
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 guarantees consumers the right to accurate information for making rational choices.
“Misleading advertisements undermine this right and adversely affect consumer interest, particularly in the field of education where aspirants invest significant time, effort, and financial resources,” stated the CCPA headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra.
The authority has urged successful candidates to report any instances of coaching institutes falsely using their names or photographs for promotional purposes.
