The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said on Sunday that its department of consumer affairs had facilitated refunds amounting to more than Rs 1 crore to UPSC Civil Services, IIT, medical entrance, CA, and management course aspirants studying at various coaching institutes. More than 656 aspirants and students of various coaching institutes had claimed refunds from coaching centres and private institutions by filing complaints on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH)

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The Department of Consumer Affairs said it had "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 centres especially not refunding the enrolment fees of the students/aspirants".

The helpline initiated a drive to resolve these grievances on a mission-mode to facilitate a total refund of Rs 1 crore to the affected students from the total demanded refund of Rs 2.39 crore till date, according to the official statement. 

Earlier, National Consumer Helpline received multiple grievances from students who had enrolled in UPSC Civil Services, IIT and other coaching programs but faced "issues such as unfulfilled promises, inadequate teaching quality, and abrupt cancellations of courses".

Over a period of 12 months, as many as 16,276 students reached out to NCH after their requests were declined, rejected or not specifically redressed to their satisfaction by certain coaching centres.

"The analysis of data repository also revealed/highlighted an increasing trend in the numbers of dissatisfied students/consumers lodging complaints at NCH," the statement read. 

 

Gradual increase in the number of grievances registered on NCH over the years

"All these refunds were processed promptly at a pre-litigation stage after the intervention of the department to the affected students from all corners of the country who raised their grievances claiming their refunds against the coaching centres offering classes for 'UPSC Civil Services', 'JEE advance', medical entrance, CA exams and other courses," the department said.  

 

 

"We are dedicated to safeguarding the rights of consumers, especially students who invest their precious time and resources in pursuing their dreams. This action reaffirms our commitment to ensure that coaching institutions adhere to fair practices and honour the rights of consumers," said Nidhi Khare, Secretary of DoCA. 

Khare also emphasised that coaching institutes must present facts truthfully and honestly by clearly and prominently disclosing important information so that consumers can not only notice it easily but also make more informed choices.