A message claiming that the Government of India has invited applications from students to receive free laptops under a scheme called the “National Student Laptop Scheme 2026” is fake, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check has said.
The warning comes after the message began circulating on WhatsApp, with claims that students could apply for laptops under the purported government scheme. The PIB Fact Check has clarified that the Government of India has neither announced any scheme by the name “National Student Laptop Scheme 2026” nor invited applications from students for free laptops under such a programme.
The fact-checking agency urged people to be cautious about such messages and verify claims about government schemes before sharing personal information or acting on links and application requests associated with them.
PIB Fact Check debunks free laptop scheme claim
According to the PIB Fact Check, the message circulating about the alleged free laptop scheme does not represent an official government announcement. The claim that the government is accepting applications from students for free laptops under the stated scheme is therefore false.
The message uses the prospect of receiving a free laptop to attract the attention of students and other recipients. Such claims can appear particularly appealing because they are presented as government-backed benefits and may encourage people to respond without first checking whether the scheme has actually been announced.
