Lok Sabha Question No. 3841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Guidelines for Misleading Advertisements
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3841 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## GUIDELINES FOR MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENTS

3841.  SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

## Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Central  Consumer  Protection  Authority  (CCPA)  has  issued  comprehensive  guidelines  to address the issue of misleading advertisements in the coaching sector to protect the rights of consumers and maintain transparency;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  CCPA  has  made  any  provision  for  penalties  and  punishment  for  coaching  centres,  its promoters and endorsers under the new guidelines;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  details  of  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  check/stop  exploitation  of  students  and  parents through misleading information by the coaching institutes?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री बी.एल. वर्मा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) to (e) : Department of Consumer  Affairs is continuously working for consumer protection and empowerment of consumers by enactment of progressive legislations. With a view to modernize the framework governing  the  consumer  protection  in  the  new  era  of  globalization,  technologies,  e-commerce  markets  etc. Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was repealed and Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was enacted.

The  Central  Consumer  Protection  Authority  (CCPA)  has  been  established  under  Section-10  of  the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to regulate the matters related to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interest of public and consumers to promote, protect and enforce the rights of the consumers as a class.

On 13 th November, 2024, CCPA has issued 'Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector, 2024' in order to prevent coaching centers from making false or misleading claims/advertisements.  The  guidelines  seeks  to  prohibit  false  claims  about  number  of  selection,  success  rate, rankings or guaranteed selection, etc. It, further, requires written consent for the use of student's names, photos, or testimonials in advertisement after their success. Additionally, every coaching center is also encouraged to become convergence partner with the National Consumer Helpline.

In  order  to  protect  consumer  interest,  CCPA  has  issued  45  notices  to  various  coaching  centers  for misleading  advertisement.  The  CCPA  has  imposed  a  penalty  of  Rs  61,60,000  on  19  coaching  institutes  and directed them to discontinue the misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices.

The  National  Consumer  Helpline  (NCH)  administered  by  the  Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  has emerged  as  a  single  point  of  access  to  consumers  across  the  country  for  their  grievance  redressal  at  a  prelitigation stage. Consumers can register their grievances from all over the country in 17 languages through a tollfree  number  1915.  These  grievances  can  be  registered  on  Integrated  Grievance  Redressal  Mechanism (INGRAM), an omni-channel IT enabled central portal, through various channels- WhatsApp, SMS , mail , NCH app, web portal, Umang app as per their convenience.  1004 companies, who have voluntarily partnered with NCH, as part of the 'Convergence' programme directly respond to these grievances according to their redressal process  and  revert  by  providing  a  feedback  to  the  complainant  on  the  portal.  Complaints  against  those companies, who have not partnered with National Consumer Helpline, are forwarded to the company's email id for redressal.

Department  of  Consumer  Affairs  through  the  National  Consumer  Helpline  (NCH)  has  successfully intervened at a pre-litigation stage to ensure justice for students and aspirants who enrolled for the UPSC Civil Services,  IIT  and  other  entrance  examinations.  Following  numerous  complaints  registered  in  the  National Consumer  Helpline  regarding  unfair  practices  by  various  coaching  centers  especially  not  refunding  the enrolment fees of the students/ aspirants, NCH initiated a drive to resolve these grievances on a mission-mode to facilitate a total refund of ₹ 1.15 cr. to affected stud ents.

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