New Delhi
The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has facilitated a refund of Rs 1 crore in enrolment fees to students preparing for various competitive exams like UPSC Civil Services and IIT entrance. The refunds were processed at a pre-litigation stage after the Consumer Affairs Ministry intervened following complaints from students.
The NCH took action after receiving numerous grievances from students about unfair practices by coaching centres. Many complaints were related to refusal to refund enrolment fees, unfulfilled promises, and poor teaching quality. In 2023-2024, NCH received 16,276 complaints from students, a significant rise compared to previous years. In 2024 alone, 6,980 students approached NCH for quick resolution of their complaints at a pre-litigation stage.
Success stories include a student from Bengaluru who was refunded Rs 3.5 lakh and another student from Gujarat who received Rs 8.36 lakh after NCH’s intervention.
The Consumer Protection regulator has taken action against misleading advertisements and unfair practices in the coaching sector. Several coaching centres have been penalized as a result.
Coaching centres have been instructed to adopt a student-centric approach and ensure transparency in their course offerings and teaching standards. This initiative also aligns with recommendations for improving dispute resolution processes and further strengthens pre-litigation platforms for faster grievance resolution across sectors. Students can register complaints via the toll-free number 1915 or the consumer helpline portal.
