CCPA fines Drishti IAS ₹5 lakh for misleading UPSC CSE 2022 results advertisement
On 3 October 2025, the Central Consumer Protection Authority said it had fined Drishti IAS ₹5 lakh for misleading ads claiming '216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022'.
Summary
On 3 October 2025, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) said it had fined Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.) ₹5 lakh for misleading advertisements claiming '216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022'. CCPA found that 162 of the 216 candidates (75%) had only taken the institute's free Interview Guidance Programme after clearing the Prelims and Mains on their own; only 54 had enrolled in other courses as well. Hiding this was held to be a misleading advertisement under Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and a denial of consumers' right to make an informed choice under Section 2(9). It was the institute's second penalty: in September 2024 CCPA had acted against its '150+ selections in UPSC CSE 2021' claim. CCPA has so far issued 54 notices to coaching institutes and fined 26 of them over ₹90.6 lakh in total.
Key facts
- Penalty
- ₹5 lakh on Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures)
- Claim
- '216+ selections' — 162 (75%) took only free interview programme
- Law
- Sec. 2(28) misleading ad; Sec. 2(9) right to be informed — CPA 2019
- Overall
- 54 notices; ₹90.6 lakh+ fines on 26 coaching institutes
Practice MCQs 2 questions
What penalty did the CCPA impose on Drishti IAS in October 2025 for misleading UPSC CSE 2022 results advertisements?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — ₹5 lakh
PIB (Department of Consumer Affairs): CCPA imposed a penalty of ₹5 lakh on Drishti IAS (VDK Eduventures Pvt. Ltd.) for misleading ads claiming '216+ selections in UPSC CSE 2022'.
Under which section of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is 'misleading advertisement' defined, as cited by the CCPA in the Drishti IAS case?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Section 2(28)
PIB: concealing the courses taken by successful candidates was held to be a misleading advertisement under Section 2(28) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019; Section 2(9) (consumer rights) was cited for the right to make an informed choice.