North News
New Delhi, December 17
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notice to 45 coaching centers for engaging in misleading advertising practices and imposed a penalty of Rs 61,60,000 on 19 institutes. The move is part of efforts to protect consumer interests and curb unfair trade practices. The CCPA has instructed these centers to discontinue deceptive advertising, as confirmed by Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, B.L. Verma, in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha.
The CCPA’s action follows the issuance of new “Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector, 2024” on November 13. These guidelines aim to prevent false claims by coaching centers promoting goods or services. Established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA regulates violations of consumer rights and ensures the enforcement of consumer protections.
The Consumer Affairs Ministry continues to drive consumer empowerment through legislation, replacing the outdated Consumer Protection Act of 1986 with the updated law. Additionally, the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) offers accessible grievance redressal for consumers across India, resolving issues related to coaching centers, including refund disputes. As part of its ongoing efforts, NCH successfully secured refunds totaling Rs 1.15 crore for students affected by unfair practices in the UPSC Civil Services and IIT entrance exam coaching sectors.
