Previously, Shubhra Ranjan and “Shubhra Ranjan IAS Coaching institute” has guided top scorers like Tina Dabi, Ria Dabi, and Ishita Kishore in achieving success in the UPSC examinations.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) recently imposed a fine of Rs. 2 lakh on Shubhra Ranjan IAS Study for issuing misleading advertisements related to the UPSC CSE 2023 results. The institute had claimed in its advertisements that 13 of its students were among the top 100, 28 were in the top 200, and 39 were in the top 300, which was found to be false information.
The CCPA investigation revealed significant discrepancies in the information provided in the advertisements. The institute falsely presented a uniform success rate for all its courses, while in reality, most successful candidates had opted for its Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) crash course and test series. This created a misleading impression that all courses offered by the institute had the same success rate.
Additionally, the institute used terms like “Shubhra Ranjan IAS” and “students of Shubhra Ranjan IAS,” which gave the impression that Shubhra Ranjan is an IAS officer, which is not true. These practices violated the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which aims to prevent deceptive advertising and the dissemination of false information.
CCPA’s actions and implications
The CCPA fined the institute Rs. 2 lakh and directed it to refrain from issuing such misleading advertisements in the future. This move is aimed at safeguarding consumer rights, ensuring that individuals can make informed decisions based on accurate information.
Previously, the CCPA had imposed a Rs. 7 lakh fine on Vajirao & Reddy Institute for similar misleading advertising practices. Such actions underline the importance of transparency and honesty in advertising by coaching institutes and ed-tech platforms.
Who is Shubhra Ranjan?
Shubhra Ranjan hails from Sitapur district in Uttar Pradesh and is a renowned name among UPSC aspirants. She is the founder of “Shubhra Ranjan IAS Coaching” and has reportedly guided top scorers like Tina Dabi, Ria Dabi, and Ishita Kishore in achieving success in the UPSC examinations. Over the years, Shubhra Ranjan has helped numerous rank holders prepare for government jobs and has taught subjects like Political Science and International Relations.
Interestingly, Shubhra Ranjan herself never attempted the UPSC exam but has always been an exceptional student. With over 25 years of teaching experience, she is considered a leading educator in her field. In 1994, she completed her BA (Honors) in Political Science from Delhi University (DU) and went on to earn her MA in Political Science and International Relations from the same university in 1998. Additionally, she is a UGC JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) scholar, further highlighting her academic excellence.
