Central Consumer Protection Authority Fines Vision IAS Rs 11 Lakh for Misleading UPSC Result Claims
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹11 lakh on Vision IAS for publishing misleading advertisements related to UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) results for 2022 and 2023.
In an order dated December 18, 2025, the CCPA held that Vision IAS created a false impression among UPSC aspirants by highlighting toppers and high ranks on its website without clearly disclosing the actual nature of the candidates’ association with the institute. The Authority noted that while the website showcased claims like “7 in Top 10 & 79 in Top 100 selections in CSE 2023” and “39 in Top 50 selections in CSE 2022,” it failed to explain which specific courses these candidates had taken.
The issue came to light after the CCPA took suo motu cognisance of the advertisements, which were displayed alongside photographs and names of successful candidates, even as the website promoted various programmes such as foundation, classroom, and test series courses.
A show cause notice was issued to Vision IAS in May 2024, asking it to justify its claims. The institute replied that detailed information about students’ courses was published in newspaper advertisements and argued that its website had limited space. It denied any wrongdoing.
However, following a detailed investigation, the Director General (Investigation) found major gaps between the public claims and verified enrolment records. For CSE 2023, while Vision IAS claimed 79 selections in the top 100, official records showed that only 17 of those candidates were actually enrolled in its programmes. Similar discrepancies were found for CSE 2022.
The investigation also pointed out that certain candidates were shown as Vision IAS students despite no clear enrolment records being produced. Additionally, the institute failed to submit consent documents authorising the use of candidates’ names and photographs in advertisements.
Rejecting the institute’s defence, the CCPA observed that websites offer ample space for full disclosure, unlike print advertisements. It stressed that in coaching advertisements, clearly stating the course type, duration, and fee details is crucial to avoid misleading aspirants.
Holding the advertisement to be misleading under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA treated this as a repeat violation. Vision IAS has been directed to pay the ₹11 lakh penalty, stop publishing misleading ads, ensure complete and truthful disclosures in future, and submit a compliance report within 15 days.
