Debunking the Hoax: No Free Laptop Scheme for Students in India
Free Laptop for Every Student? The Truth Behind the Viral Claim
Image: Times Now News
A viral WhatsApp message falsely claims that the Indian Government is offering free laptops to students under a non-existent 'National Student Laptop Scheme 2026.' The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has confirmed this is a hoax aimed at gathering personal information.
- 01The viral message claims 960,000 students will receive free laptops under a scheme that does not exist.
- 02The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has labeled the message as misleading and a hoax.
- 03Students are advised to avoid unverified advertisements and links that request personal information.
- 04Some Indian states do provide laptops to meritorious students, but there is no nationwide scheme for free laptops.
- 05The Delhi government recently distributed laptops to 1,200 meritorious Class 10 students.
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A WhatsApp message claiming that the Indian Government is offering free laptops to students under the 'National Student Laptop Scheme 2026' has been identified as a hoax by the Press Information Bureau (PIB). The message falsely asserts that 960,000 students will benefit from this scheme, which is designed to assist financially disadvantaged pupils. However, PIB confirmed that no such scheme exists and warned that the message is intended to collect personal and financial information from students. Students are urged to refrain from sharing unverified messages and to verify information through official channels. While there is no national initiative for free laptops, some Indian states, including Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, do provide electronic devices to meritorious or financially needy students after they achieve notable academic success. For instance, the Delhi government previously distributed laptops to 1,200 high-achieving Class 10 students. Students are reminded to remain vigilant against potential scams.
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Students could be misled into providing personal information to scammers due to the viral hoax.
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