In a step towards tightening the noose over coaching centres, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has sought public comments on Draft Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector.

The Draft Guidelines are placed on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs.

The draft Guidelines have been framed after detailed deliberations with all stakeholders including coaching institutes, law firms, Government and Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCO’s) and are now being put up for public consultation.

As per the draft guidelines, any person who engage in coaching shall be considered to be engage in a misleading advertisement if it employs practices like conceal important information related to name and duration of the course or any other important information which can influence a consumer’s decision to choose their services.

Make false claims regarding success rates, number of selections, or rankings of students in any competitive exam without providing verifiable evidence. If an institution falsely represents that students’ success is solely attributable to the coaching, without acknowledging the individual efforts of the students, it will be considered a false practice.

The draft also said the institutes should not create false sense of urgency or fear of missing out that may heighten anxieties amongst students, or parents.

Any other practices that may mislead consumers or subvert consumer autonomy and choice.

The proposed Guidelines seek to prevent such misleading advertisements which affect consumers as a class. Misleading advertisements by the coaching sector will be governed as per Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the proposed guidelines will bring clarity to the stakeholders and protect consumer interests, Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.

CCPA conducted a stakeholder’s consultation on Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector attended by Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Education, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, National Law University Delhi, FIITJEE, Khan Global Studies and Ikigai Law.