ASCI cracks down on misleading ads in education sector

Updated on: Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) today said it has upheld complaints against six misleading advertisements by educational institutions in July and August, after putting in place a set of self- regulatory guidelines for the education sector.
"Of the total 12 complaints upheld by ASCI in July and August, six were against ads of educational institutes," ASCI said in a statement.

The rest were against advertisements in areas such as consumer goods, travel, realty and appliances companies.

ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against three advertisements of Career Launcher India for not substantiating claims such as 'highest success rate', 'number of students taking tests' and 'being the most successful trainer in Mumbai'.

"The company could not substantiate any of the claims with data and hence the CCC asked for the ads to be withdrawn or modify," the ASCI statement added.

In a similar case, ads by TIME Institute had to be withdrawn by the institute as the ads did not substantiate the claim of being 'No. 1 institute for GMAT at the time'.

Similarly, a claim by Education Matters on its website about its association with the British Deputy High Commission was unsubstantiated and hence it was directed to withdraw the claim from its website.

Taking note of the fact that a significant amount of advertising activity In August, ASCI had issued a guideline for advertisements in the education sector.

Companies outside the education sector, which had to either withdraw or modify their advertisements included Colgate Palmolive, Dabur, Supreme Food Industries, Nirali Appliances and Raj Travel World.

ASCI cracks down on misleading ads in education sector

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