Fabricated University Notice Claims Students Can Earn Marks for Attending PM Modi’s Rally

A forged university notice claiming to offer students academic credits for attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming rally has sparked controversy across social media platforms. The false document, attributed to Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University, went viral just days before the Prime Minister’s scheduled visit to the state.

The fraudulent notice suggested that students who attended Modi’s November 9 rally in Uttarakhand would receive 50 internal marks under a “Bharatiya Gyan Parampara” component. The Prime Minister’s visit coincides with celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of Uttarakhand’s formation as a state.

University officials have categorically denied issuing any such directive. Aman Bansal, Vice Chairman of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University, confirmed to reporters that the notice was completely fabricated and that the institution has initiated legal proceedings in response.

“We are in the process of filing an FIR with local police authorities,” Bansal stated, providing copies of the written complaint submitted to law enforcement. The university also released a public statement on its official Facebook page on November 8, formally denouncing the document as counterfeit.

The falsified notice gained significant traction after prominent Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan shared it on social platform X (formerly Twitter). “Dev Bhumi Uttarakhand University to award 50 marks for attending Modi’s rally! And how many for shouting Modi Modi?” Bhushan wrote in his post, amplifying the misinformation to his substantial follower base.

A closer examination of the document revealed numerous inconsistencies that indicated its fraudulent nature. Unlike legitimate university communications, the notice lacked standard elements including an issue date, official signature, and institutional seal or stamp—all standard components of authentic university circulars.

Comparison with genuine notices from the university’s official website, such as a Diwali holiday announcement from September 22, further highlighted the discrepancies. The authentic circular contained all appropriate official markings and formatting that were conspicuously absent in the viral forgery.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened political activity in Uttarakhand as the state prepares for the Prime Minister’s visit. Modi is scheduled to participate in celebrations marking Uttarakhand’s silver jubilee, an event of significant importance in the state’s political calendar.

This case illustrates the growing challenge of misinformation surrounding political events in India, particularly on social media platforms where content can spread rapidly without verification. Educational institutions have increasingly become targets for such disinformation campaigns, often finding themselves at the center of fabricated controversies.

The spreading of such false information can damage institutional reputations and potentially influence public perception ahead of significant political events. Universities across India have faced similar challenges in recent years, prompting many to establish dedicated communication channels to quickly address misinformation.

As the Prime Minister’s visit approaches, local authorities are likely to be on heightened alert for additional instances of misinformation that could potentially disrupt the scheduled ceremonies or influence public sentiment regarding the event.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information from official sources before sharing potentially misleading content, especially regarding educational institutions and political figures.