The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed an ₹8 lakh penalty on Narayana Educational Institutions for publishing misleading advertisements relating to the JEE Advanced 2024 results after finding that the institute concealed material information about the courses pursued by successful candidates.

The proceedings were initiated suo motu after the CCPA examined advertisements published on Narayana's website, Facebook page and in The Times of India. The Authority found that the advertisements created the impression that all featured rank holders were regular classroom students, whereas several were enrolled in distance learning programmes (DLPs). It also noted that the disclaimer regarding a student's category rank was printed in an extremely small and illegible font.

Rejecting Narayana's explanation that course details could not be disclosed due to space constraints, the CCPA held that such information was material for students and parents while choosing an educational institution. The Authority also found deficiencies in the documents submitted by the institute, including unsigned enrolment forms and incomplete records.

Holding that the advertisements were misleading under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA imposed an ₹8 lakh penalty on Narayana Educational Institutions, directed it to discontinue the misleading advertisements with immediate effect, and ordered that future advertisements carry truthful and complete disclosures, including prominently displayed disclaimers regarding the nature of the courses attended by featured students

Case Title: In Re: Misleading Advertisement by Narayana Educational Institutions with respect to JEE Advanced 2024 Results

Case Number: CCPA-2/38/2024-CCPA

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