The Nationwide Client Helpline (NCH) has facilitated a refund of ₹1 crore in enrolment charges to college students and aspirants of assorted aggressive exams, together with UPSC Civil Providers and IIT entrance, the federal government mentioned on Sunday.
The refunds have been processed at a pre-litigation stage following intervention by the Client Affairs Ministry after college students from throughout the nation raised grievances in opposition to teaching centres providing courses for varied aggressive exams.
Client Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare mentioned, “This motion reaffirms our dedication to make sure that teaching establishments adhere to honest practices and honour the rights of customers.” The NCH initiated a drive to resolve these grievances on a mission-mode after receiving quite a few complaints relating to unfair practices by teaching centres, significantly their refusal to refund enrolment charges, an official assertion mentioned.
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NCH acquired 16,276 grievances from college students in 2023-2024, up from 5,351 in 2022-2023 and 4,815 in 2021-2022. In 2024 alone, 6,980 college students have approached NCH for fast redressal of their grievances at a pre-litigation stage.
Complaints included unfulfilled guarantees, insufficient instructing high quality, and abrupt cancellations of programs.
The ministry cited success tales, together with a Bengaluru scholar who acquired a refund of ₹3.5 lakh and a Gujarat scholar who was granted a refund of ₹8.36 lakh after NCH intervention.
The Client Safety regulator CCPA has taken motion in opposition to deceptive ads and unfair commerce practices within the teaching sector, together with penalising a number of teaching centres.
The ministry has directed teaching centres to undertake a extra student-centric method and guarantee transparency in course choices and high quality requirements.
This initiative aligns with NITI Aayog’s suggestions for bettering dispute decision processes and strengthens the pre-litigation platform for immediate grievance redressal throughout sectors.
College students can register their grievances by calling the toll-free quantity 1915 or by the portal www.consumerhelpline.gov.in.
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