In July 2024, three IAS aspirants died by drowning at a coaching centre in New Delhi after the basement of the facility was flooded.
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In July 2024, three IAS aspirants died by drowning at a coaching centre in New Delhi after the basement of the facility was flooded, sparking debates about safety concerns and possible deception by such centres that were mushrooming amid thousands of students from across the country flocking to urban settlements to avail coaching for various competitive examinations and entrance tests like JEE, NEET, GATE, etc. for admission to various professional courses. Not long after the tragic incident, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued ‘Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector, 2024’, to protect the rights of consumers and maintain transparency in the coaching sector. As per the guidelines, false claims, including courses, fees, refund policies, selection rates, success stories, exam rankings, job security promises, and any information that can mislead students with false guarantees and urgency, would be treated as a contravention of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and penalised accordingly. The Government of Nagaland also issued comprehensive guidelines recently, mandating the compulsory registration of coaching centres with the respective district administration. It aligns with the CCPA guidelines, which have been in place since 2024, at least in principle. The aim is the same: to thwart coaching centres from making misleading claims and playing with the future of promising students with deceptive practices and false hope.
While the move to bring the rapidly expanding sector under a structured regulatory framework is essential to prevent students from being exploited as well as help them make informed decisions about their careers, the effort will be futile if corruption infiltrates the system, as seen in many state government sectors. For instance, under the new guideline issued by the Department of Higher and Technical Education, coaching centres are required to apply for registration with the respective district administration, following which it will be forwarded to a state-level committee after due verification. The committee will then issue registration certificates after inspection. The process can be hindered by the red tape often associated with government bureaucracy, leading to unnecessary delays that foster corruption, including bribery. It should not serve as a source of income for the corrupt. To prevent such a possibility, a mechanism should be in place to ensure fair selection within a specific timeframe. The guidelines appear good on paper, but their effectiveness ultimately depends on implementation on the ground. The ever-expanding coaching industry, which remained unregulated till recently, also should look beyond profit-making and adhere to the government guidelines. It should address students' mental health and well-being besides fostering academic excellence.