National Consumer Helpline facilitates Rs 1 crore refund to students from coaching centres

New Delhi : On Sunday, the government stated that the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has helped students and candidates of different competitive exams, such as UPSC Civil Services and IIT entrance, receive a refund of Rs 1 crore in enrolment fees. Refunds were issued during the pre-litigation phase with the involvement of the Consumer Affairs Ministry, responding to complaints from students nationwide about coaching centers providing classes for competitive exams.

Nidhi Khare, Secretary of Consumer Affairs, stated, "This step confirms our dedication to making sure coaching institutions follow ethical practices and respect consumer rights."After receiving many complaints about unfair practices by coaching centers, especially their refusal to refund enrollment fees, the NCH has started a mission to address these grievances in a proactive manner, according to an official statement.

In 2023-2024, NCH saw a significant increase in student grievances, with 16,276 reported, compared to 5,351 and 4,815 in the previous two academic years. Only in the year 2024, a total of 6,980 students have sought assistance from NCH to quickly address their complaints before any legal action is taken. Issues raised included promises not being met, poor teaching quality, and sudden course cancellations.

The ministry mentioned examples of achievements, such as a Bengaluru student getting a Rs 3.5 lakh refund and a Gujarat student receiving a refund of Rs 8.36 lakh due to NCH involvement. Students have the option to lodge complaints by dialing the toll-free number 1915 or accessing the website www.consumerhelpline.gov.in. CCPA has cracked down on deceptive ads and unethical behavior in the coaching industry, resulting in penalties for numerous coaching centers.

The ministry has instructed coaching centers to implement a student-focused strategy and guarantee transparency in both course offerings and quality criteria. This effort is in line with NITI Aayog's suggestions to enhance conflict resolution procedures and enhance the pre-litigation system for quick grievance addressing in various industries.