New Delhi, 13 November 2024: The Centre on Wednesday introduced new regulations to curb misleading advertisements by coaching institutes, banning claims such as 100% selection rates and guaranteed job security.
The guidelines, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), come after numerous complaints were lodged with the National Consumer Helpline. To date, the CCPA has sent 54 notices and imposed fines totaling Rs 54.60 lakh.
“We have observed coaching institutes intentionally withholding information from potential students. With these new guidelines, we aim to guide those operating in the coaching industry,” said Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
While the government is not opposed to coaching institutes, Khare emphasized that the quality of their marketing practices must not compromise consumer rights.
Under the new rules, coaching centres are prohibited from making misleading statements about course offerings, faculty qualifications, pricing structures, refund policies, exam rankings, or assured job placements. The guidelines also specify that coaching is limited to academic help, education, guidance, study programs, and tuition, excluding counselling, sports, or creative activities.
In addition, coaching centres must obtain written consent from successful candidates before using their names, images, or testimonials. Disclaimers and clear information about course details must be prominently displayed.
Khare pointed out that many candidates, particularly those preparing for UPSC exams, clear the preliminary and main stages independently and only seek coaching for the interview stage. “Prospective students should verify which courses successful candidates were actually enrolled in,” she advised.
These ‘Prevention of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector’ guidelines apply to all forms of advertising for academic support, education, coaching, and tuition services, but exclude counselling, sports, and creative fields.
