New Delhi:

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Sunday said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on Shankar IAS Academy for issuing misleading advertisements related to the UPSC Civil Service Exam 2022.

The decision was taken by the CCPA to protect and promote the rights of consumers, ensuring that no false or misleading advertisement is made of any goods or services which contravenes the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said that according to reports, more than 10 lakh candidates apply for the UPSC civil services examination every year.

“Shankar IAS Academy’s advertisement was targeted towards a class of consumers – UPSC aspirants. That’s why such advertisements shall contain truthful and honest representation of facts by disclosing important information in such a manner that they are clear, prominent and extremely hard to miss for consumers,” she mentioned.

Section 18 of the Act empowers CCPA that it shall ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made in respect of any goods or services which contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder.

In its advertisement related to the UPSC Civil Service exam 2022, Shankar IAS Academy claimed 336 selections out of 933 at All India Level; 40 candidates in Top 100; 42 candidates cleared from Tamil Nadu, of which 37 studied at Shankar IAS Academy and Best IAS Academy in India.

The CCPA probe found that Shankar IAS Academy advertised various types of courses but the information with respect to the course opted by the advertised successful candidates in the UPSC Civil Service exams results was “deliberately concealed in the advertisement”.

This had the effect of consumers falsely believing that all the successful candidates so claimed by the Institute had opted for the paid courses advertised by the Institute on its website.

“In other words, this practice consequently attracts consumers into buying paid courses advertised by the coaching institutes,” said the regulator that comes under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

In its response, Shankar IAS Academy submitted the details of only 333 successful candidates against its claim of 336 plus selections in UPSC CSE 2022.

Out of 336 claimed students, 221 took Free Interview Guidance Programme, 71 took Mains Test Series, 35 took Prelims Test Series, 12 took General Studies Prelims cum Mains, 4 took Prelims Test Series with Some other mains course (optional and/or GS).

“This fact was not disclosed in their advertisement, thereby deceiving consumers. By concealing this important fact, such false and misleading advertisement creates a huge impact on those consumers who are UPSC aspirants without letting them know that Shankar IAS Academy’s role in candidates’ success,” the CCPA stressed.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Former IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar on Friday urged the Delhi High Court to disregard seven of her 12 acknowledged attempts to pass the uber-competitive Civil Services entrance exam.

Specifically, Ms Khedkar doubled down on physical disability claims – she has a Maharashtra hospital certificate diagnosing her with an “old ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear with left knee instability” – and asked, therefore, that only attempts in the ‘divyang‘ category be counted.

She has claimed a 47 per cent disability as against the government’s 40 per cent benchmark.

The term ‘divyang‘ is the government’s term for persons with disabilities, although many have rejected the label, arguing it sets them apart from society and demanding, instead, focus on ensuring equal treatment and rights, as well as accessibility to public spaces and services.

In an affidavit filed with the court this morning she asked that her seven attempts as a general category student be disregarded. Should this be accepted, it will reduce the number of confirmed attempts to five (each of which she passed). This is four less than the upper limits for persons with disabilities, and one less than that allowed for general category candidates.

Puja Khedkar made headlines after claims she lied about physical and mental disabilities, and changed her name and surname, as well as forging an OBC certificate, to clear the exam.

READ | “Someone Doubted…”: Doctor On Trainee Officer’s Disability Claim

Ms Khedkar’s violations were exposed in June after it emerged she had secured perks beyond her pay grade, such as a siren and a ‘Government of Maharashtra’ sticker for her private vehicle.

The Delhi High Court is hearing an anticipatory bail plea by Ms Khedkar, who faces criminal charges, including forgery and cheating. On August 1 a city court had rejected her plea.

READ | Former Trainee IAS Puja Khedkar’s Anticipatory Bail Plea Rejected

The lower court dismissed Ms Khedkar’s claims about “imminent threat of arrest”.

Days later she moved the High Court and the police, also asked to submit a fresh response to her plea – were told not to arrest her till a final verdict. That protection is in place till Thursday.

The police have sought dismissal of her plea on grounds that any relief will hinder its investigation into a “deep-rooted conspiracy”. The cops also argued that giving Ms Khedkar bail could damage public perception of the integrity of the civil services examination and the UPSC.

The UPSC, in turn, has told the Delhi High Court Ms Khedkar committed a “fraud”.

Meanwhile, Ms Khedkar has also rejected a claim by the UPSC – which is the government body that conducts the exam – that she changed her name and surname for one of the 12 attempts, in an attempt to circumvent rules limiting chances per candidate, depending on certain factors.

READ | “Changed Her Name…”: UPSC On How Puja Khedkar Cheated

She claimed only her middle name had been altered and argued “therefore, there is no truth in the allegation that there has been a major change in my name”. “UPSC verified my identity through biometric data… did not find my documents (to be) fake or incorrect…” she argued.

READ | Puja Khedkar Claims UPSC Doesn’t Have Power To Disqualify Her

She has also claimed the UPSC, which has revoked her selection – lacks the authority to do so since she had already been selected and appointed as a probationary officer. Only the union government, specifically the Department of Personnel and Training, can take action, she said.

Last month the UPSC said Ms Khedkar had changed her name, and that of her parents, to secure another crack at the exam. The central body said she had been served a notice for “fraudulently availing attempts, beyond permissible limit… by faking her identity”.

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New Delhi:

Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, who has been accused of cheating and wrongly securing OBC (Other Backward Class) and disability quota benefits, has told the Delhi High Court that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) – which conducts the civil services exam – has no power to take disqualify her.

The UPSC last month cancelled Puja Khedkar’s candidature and debarred her from future exams. The Commission alleged that she misrepresented information in her application for the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2022 to get reservation benefits.

“Once selected and appointed as a Probationary Officer, UPSC does not have the power to disqualify the candidature,” Puja Khedkar, who is seeking anticipatory bail in the criminal case against her, said in a response filed before the court on the UPSC’s charges against her.

She said that now only the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Central Government can take action against her.

Puja Khedkar On UPSC’s “Changed Her Name” Charge

The UPSC has claimed that Puja Khedkar attempted the uber-competitive qualifying test more than the six times permitted for a general category candidate. She did so by changing her name, and that of her parents, which is why the Commission said it could not detect the violation.

Puja Khedkar, however, refuted these allegations and said that there has been no change in her name or surname from 2012 to 2022. She also said that she had not given any wrong information about herself to the UPSC.

“UPSC verified my identity through biometric data. The Commission did not find my documents fake or incorrect. My educational certificate, Aadhaar card, date of birth, and other personal information were found to be absolutely correct,” she told the court.

“All the necessary verifications were also done by DoPT. As per DoPT, a medical board constituted by AIIMS conducted my medical examination. The board found my disability to be up to 47% and more than the 40% disability required for the PwBD (Person with Benchmark Disability) category,” she said in her reply.

Puja Khedkar’s “Fraud” Not Only Against Us But Public Too: UPSC

The UPSC, earlier this month, opposed in the Delhi High Court an anticipatory bail petition by Puja Khedkar, saying she committed “fraud” against the commission and the public. 

In its reply filed in court on August 21, the UPSC said Puja Khedkar’s custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the magnitude of the “fraud” that could not have been done without the help of other individuals. Therefore, her pre-arrest bail plea should be dismissed, it said.

“The gravity of the fraud committed is unprecedented in nature having been committed against not only a constitutional body — the complainant — whose traditions are untrammelled and unparalleled but also against the public at large, including the citizens of this country who have utmost faith upon the credibility of the UPSC as well as persons who could not be appointed despite being duly eligible and qualified due to illegal means employed by the applicant to seek appointment,” the UPSC said.

The Delhi Police has also sought dismissal of the pre-arrest bail plea on the ground that any relief to her would hinder its probe into the “deep-rooted conspiracy” and that the case has wider implications on public trust as well as the integrity of the civil services examination.

The Delhi High Court will today hear her petition.

New Delhi:

At least three students were killed after they were trapped for over four hours when water suddenly gushed into the basement of a popular coaching centre in Delhi on Saturday.

The three victims have been identified as Tania Soni, Shreya Yadav, both aged 25, and Navin Delvin, 28, from Kerala.

They were all preparing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams.

Visuals from West Delhi’s Old Rajendra Nagar showed the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle completely flooded on Saturday evening. 

Fire brigade officials said they received a call about students being stuck in the basement at 7.19 pm and five fire engines were dispatched to assist in rescue operations. 

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was also called in to assist in the rescue operation.

Officials said a drain had exploded, leading to the basement’s flooding.

The bodies of two female students were pulled out hours after the rescue operation began, while the body of the third student was recovered later into the night.

What May Have Led To Flooding 

Preliminary investigation suggests that the basement housed a library – with a seating capacity of about 150 people – where several students were present when water suddenly entered. 

The investigation has revealed that the coaching centre was built in a street that was on a slope, one of the reasons why water after heavy rain may have reached the institute so quickly. The water flow also reportedly broke the basement door.

ALSO READ | ‘Murder’: BJP Blames Delhi Government For Death Of 3 After Flooding

It is also being probed whether the flooding was caused due to the overflow of the sewer drain on the street.

According to a police officer, the furniture in the institute started floating when it was flooded, creating an obstruction in the rescue operation.

The tragic incident comes days after a UPSC aspirant was electrocuted while trying to cross a waterlogged street in Patel Nagar, which is also in West Delhi. 

New Delhi:

Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, mired in controversy over alleged misuse of power, said today the law will take its course. In her first reaction on the matter, the 34-year-old said,  “Now the judiciary will take its course. Whatever questions there are, I will respond to them. I am coming back and and will give you the byte.”

The Union Public Service Commission has started the process that may lead to cancellation of the selection of the trainee officer, who is being investigated for lying about visual and mental disabilities. She has also allegedly faked her identity and changed the names of her parents to clear the Civil Services entrance exam.

The UPSC has sent a show-cause notice asking Ms Khedkar why her candidature should not be cancelled. Its action will depend on her reply.

The Delhi Police has filed a case that includes charges of forgery, under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and IT Act.

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday announced giving financial assistance of Rs 7,500 to civil service aspirants as a stipend.

Speaking at the event, the Minister for for Youth Welfare and Sports Development said, “Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Indian Bank service, Railways job, our Dravidian model’s aim is to get those jobs. Karunanidhi wanted first-family graduate students. Periyar Anna and Karunanidhi worked for the upliftment of youths. In the same way, our Chief Minister (MK) Stalin is also working.”

“Our Naan Mudhalvan scheme is a great one from which 13 lakh students benefited and 1.5 lakh students got jobs. Youths should get central Government jobs. This Naan Mudhalvan scheme will help fulfil the dream of youths,” he added.

The minister said that there are many facilities in Tamil Nadu provided by the state government but the participation of youths from the state has decreased.

“There are many facilities in Tamil Nadu provided by the state government but the pass percentage of our state youths in UPSC exams is very low which is shocking. Once there was 10 percent of TN youths in central government jobs but after 2016, now it has decreased to just 5 percent. That’s why we started training centres for the youths on UPSC aspirants and now we distribute financial assistance to those. Through this we are going to give Rs 7,500 to 1,000 students for 10 months,” Udhayanidhi Stalin said.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)