Consumer Protection Authority imposes Rs 5 lakh fine on Khan Study Group for misleading advertisement

NEW DELHI: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Khan Study Group (KSG) for misleading advertisement and unfair trade practice.

A panel of CCPA headed by chief commissioner Nidhi Khare and commissioner Anupam Mishra found the Khan Study Group in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Khan Study Group had claimed that 682 out of 933 students selected in Union Public Service Commission Civil Service Exam 2022 were studying at the institute. It had also added that the top 5 candidates in the examination were also from KSG. It also claimed to be the best IAS coaching institute for general studies and CSAT in the country.

The CCPA, in its preliminary inquiry, found that the KSG had concealed the information with respect to the course opted by the advertised successful candidates in UPSC exam 2022 was concealed in its advertisement. The institute in its response to CCPA said out of 682 successful candidates showcased in the impugned advertisement by KSG, 674 took mock interview programme, which is a free of cost.

The CCPA found in the investigation that out of 682, only 8 successful candidates took guidance for additional courses that too in previous years. This fact was not disclosed in their advertisements, thereby deceiving consumers into believing that such successful candidates owe their success to said institution.

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It also found out that the five toppers of UPSC CS exam 2022 – Ishita Kishore (AIR 1), Garima Lohia (AIR 2), Uma Harathi N (AIR 3), Smriti Mishra (AIR 4) and Mayur Hazarika (AIR 5) – only took mock interview from Khan Study Group.

CCPA had taken suo-moto cognisance and issued notices to various IAS coaching institutes, including Khan Study Group, for false advertisement after the UPSC Civil Service Exam result.