Free laptops to be given to students? PIB Fact Check debunks fake news

A message is being circulated on WhatsApp claiming that the Ministry of Education will provide free laptops among students to support virtual learning amid the pandemic. However, PIB Fact Check has termed the claim absolutely fake.  

The Government of India has fact checked a claim that the Education Ministry will provide free laptops to support virtual learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The claim is false, the government’s fact check organisation, PIB Fact Check, has confirmed. 

PIB Fact Check has asked people not to click on the link or share personal information. PIB took to Twitter and wrote: “A message along with a link is claiming that Education Ministry Of India will provide free laptops to all people to support virtual learning amid the COVID-19 outbreak.” “PIBFactCheck : This claim is Fake,” it added. 

It said, “Any official announcement made by the Education Ministry will be informed to students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders through the official website of the Ministry or else through the verified social media accounts of the Ministry and the Education Minister.” 

Earlier on Monday, August 2, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in a written response to a question in the Lower House said that over 2.96 crore school students across 24 states do not have access to digital devices with Bihar reporting the highest number. In terms of absolute numbers, Bihar has the highest number of such students at 1.43 crore, followed by Jharkhand (35.52 lakh), Karnataka (31.31 lakh) and Assam (31.06 lakh). Uttarakhand has 21 lakh such children. 

Read more:

• Digital divide: 2.96 crore students without digital device in India: Govt
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