Lok Sabha Question No. 1820 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Misleading Advertisements by IAS Coaching Centres
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Pratima Mondal, Sougata Ray

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1820

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2023

## MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENTS BY IAS COACHING CENTRES

1820.  SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL: PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has noticed a large number of misleading advertisements getting published in various national print and visual media by IAS coaching centres;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any action to check such types of misleading advertisements; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ( श्री अश्विनी कु मार चौबे )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (d): 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 in  the  new  era  of  globalization,  technologies,  e-commerce markets etc Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was repealed and Consumer Protection Act 2019 was enacted.

Under  the  Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019,  misleading  advertisement  in  relation  to  any  product  or service is defined as an advertisement, which- (i) falsely describes such product or service; or (ii) gives a false guarantee to, or is likely to mislead the consumers as to the nature, substance, quantity or quality of such product or service; or (iii) conveys an express or implied representation which, if made by the manufacturer or seller  or  service  provider  thereof,  would  constitute  an  unfair  trade  practice;  or  (iv)  deliberately  conceals important information.

Under  the  provisions  of  the  Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019,  the  Central  Consumer  Protection Authority (CCPA) has been established w.e.f 24.07.2020 to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and consumers as a class.

The CCPA  has notified the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022 on 9th June, 2022. These guidelines inter-alia provide for; (a) conditions for an advertisement to be non-misleading and valid; (b) certain stipulations in respect of bait  advertisements  and  free  claim  advertisements;  and,  (c)  duties  of  manufacturer,  service  provider, advertiser and advertising agency.

The  CCPA has issued  'Guidelines  for  Prevention  and  Regulation  of  Dark  Patterns,  2023'  on  30th November, 2023 for prevention and regulation of dark patterns listing 13 specified dark patterns.

The  CCPA  has  issued  20  notices  to  IAS  coaching  institutes  for  misleading  advertisements  and imposed penalties on 8 such IAS coaching institutes.

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