IndianBureaucracy, New Delhi – Central Consumer Protection Authority Seeks Public Input on Draft Guidelines to Curb Misleading Coaching Sector Advertisements
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has released Draft Guidelines for the Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector and is inviting public comments. The guidelines aim to address false claims about success rates and other aspects made by individuals or entities involved in coaching.
The draft guidelines can be accessed on the Department of Consumer Affairs website through the following link: (https://consumeraffairs.nic.in/sites/default/files/file-uploads/latestnews/Public%20Comments%20Letter%202.pdf).
Public comments, suggestions, and feedback are encouraged and can be submitted to the Central Authority within 30 days, up to March 16, 2024.
The CCPA previously conducted a stakeholder consultation on Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector on January 8, 2024. Stakeholders included the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Education, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, National Law University Delhi, FIITJEE, Khan Global Studies, and Ikigai Law. During the meeting, there was a consensus that the CCPA should introduce guidelines to prevent misleading advertisements in the coaching sector.
The draft guidelines have been developed through extensive discussions with coaching institutes, law firms, government representatives, and voluntary consumer organizations. The guidelines, once finalized, will be issued under section 18 (2) (l) of the Consumer Protection Act 2019.
The guidelines define coaching as tuition, instructions, academic support, learning programs, or guidance provided by any person. They specify conditions for misleading advertisements, including concealing important information, making false claims without evidence, and creating a false sense of urgency or fear.
The guidelines will be applicable to all individuals or entities engaged in coaching. The primary objective is to shield consumers from misleading coaching advertisements and ensure transparency in the sector. The proposed guidelines will be governed by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and are designed to bring clarity to stakeholders while safeguarding consumer interests.
For additional details on the guidelines, please visit: (https://consumeraffairs.nic.in/sites/default/files/file-uploads/latestnews/Public%20Comments%20Letter%202.pdf).