Delhi’s celebrated UPSC coaching brand, Vajirao & Reddy, has been pulled up by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) for painting an inflated picture of its success in the Civil Services Examination.
The regulator has imposed a ₹15 lakh penalty after concluding that the institute’s advertisements surrounding the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2023 results created a misleading impression among aspirants.
The Big Claims
On its website, the institute had proclaimed:
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“Over 645 selections out of 1016 vacancies in UPSC CSE 2023”
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“6 in Top 10 AIR”
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“35 in Top 50 AIR”
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“64 in Top 100 AIR”
To thousands of hopeful candidates navigating the high-stakes world of the UPSC, such numbers can shape decisions—and dreams.
What the Probe Found
Acting on its own motion, the CCPA opened an inquiry and sought granular details: enrolment forms, course duration records, fee receipts, scholarship data—evidence that would substantiate the sweeping claims.
The findings told a different story.
Of the 645 successful candidates highlighted in advertisements:
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431 were not enrolled in any programme offered by the institute.
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Only 57 had signed up for an interview course.
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33 were enrolled in interview guidance courses.
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643 were not part of the institute’s main interview programme.
The Authority also recorded that key documents—including fee receipts and enrolment forms—were not furnished despite specific directions.
“Subsequent Contravention,” Says Regulator
The CCPA noted that the advertisements remained on the website even after a notice was issued in May 2024. Though the institute acknowledged certain lapses and claimed corrective steps were underway, the regulator found no verifiable proof that meaningful changes had been implemented.
Given a prior order and ongoing inquiry, the Authority termed the conduct a “subsequent contravention” under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019—warranting a penalty exceeding ₹10 lakh.
In its February 20 ruling, the CCPA directed the institute to:
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Pay ₹15 lakh as penalty
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Cease publishing misleading advertisements
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File a compliance report within 15 days
Why It Matters
For aspirants chasing a coveted rank in the UPSC examination, coaching advertisements often act as signposts. The regulator underlined that clarity about which courses successful candidates actually attended constitutes “important information.” Without that transparency, the impression created is that toppers emerged from comprehensive programmes—when many may not have been enrolled at all.
In a fiercely competitive coaching industry, the order signals a clear message: glossy claims must stand on solid ground.
