Govt Seeks Public Comments On Draft Guidelines To Curb Deceptive Advertisements By Coaching Centres

New Delhi: Eager to put in place stringent guidelines to prevent deceptive advertisements by coaching centres targeting students, the government has released draft guidelines.

Before giving final shape, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has sought comments from the public on the ‘Draft Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector’.

The draft guidelines have been formulated to curb misleading assertions about success rates, number of selections, etc. by those engaged in coaching who define ‘coaching’ as tuition, instructional academic support, learning programmes, or guidance provided by any individual.

The guidelines outline criteria for identifying misleading advertisements.

The draft guidelines have been released weeks after the Centre tightened regulations on coaching centres. The guidelines stipulate that coaching centres can’t enrol students under 16 years of age, make deceptive assurances, or promise specific ranks or high marks.

Anyone involved in coaching will be deemed to be using misleading advertising if they employ any of the following practices:

* Failure to disclose crucial information regarding the course name (whether it’s free or paid) and the duration of the course selected by a successful candidate or any other significant details that could impact a consumer’s decision to select their services.

* Provide inaccurate assertions regarding success rates, the number of selections, or the rankings of students in any competitive examination without furnishing verifiable evidence.

* Misrepresent that students’ success is solely attributed to the coaching, without acknowledging the individual efforts of the students. Clearly delineate the extent of coaching involvement in their success.

* Generate an artificial sense of urgency or instil fear of missing out that could exacerbate anxieties among students or parents. Employ any other tactics that might deceive consumers or undermine consumer autonomy and choice.

Development of Guidelines and Accessing Procedures

* Draft guidelines available on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs, allowing the public to submit feedback within a 30-day period ending on March 16, 2024.

* CCPA organised a stakeholder consultation on Misleading Advertisement in the Coaching Sector on January 8, 2024. The event was attended by representatives from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Education, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), National Law University (NLU) Delhi, FIITJEE, Khan Global Studies, and Ikigai Law.

During the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that the Central Consumer Protection Authority should formulate guidelines to prevent misleading advertisements in the coaching sector.