New Delhi: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check team has come out strong against a fake letter going viral on social media. This letter pretends to be from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, the head of the Indian Air Force (IAF). It’s all made up, and PIB wants everyone to stop sharing it right away.
The letter says the Defence Minister is upset about the IAF sharing some “sensitive” report with the public. But it’s not real. PIB posted on its official handles: “A letter is going around on social media, said to be from Union Defence Minister @rajnathsingh to Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh. It talks about sharing a sensitive IAF report. Warning! This letter is fake!”
This kind of fake news is dangerous, especially when it involves our armed forces. It can create fights inside the government or make people doubt our defence setup. PIB says such tricks are on the rise, and we all need to be careful.
Why Fake Letters Like This Hurt Our Country
This fake letter is dated November 22 and has a big “Personal Confidential” stamp on top. It looks real at first glance, but it’s designed to cause trouble. Bad people might use it to make us think there’s a big problem between the Defence Minister and the IAF Chief. This can shake trust in our leaders and forces.
Officials say making up letters about the army or air force is a serious crime. It can harm national security. The government is asking everyone: Check twice before you share anything. Don’t forward stuff without knowing it’s true. Stick to real sources like official websites or PIB’s pages.
In today’s world, with WhatsApp and Twitter full of quick shares, fake news spreads like fire. But we can stop it. Just pause and think: Is this from a trusted place?
Not the First Time: Remember the Fake Army Chief Video?
This isn’t new. Just a few weeks back, PIB caught another big lie. A video went viral showing Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi. It said the army would kick out 50% of Hindu soldiers who don’t belong to certain castes by 2028. Sounds shocking, right? But it was all fake – made with AI tools to fool people.
PIB found out it came from Pakistani accounts trying to stir up hate in India. The video was twisted to make our army look bad and divide people on caste lines. They said: “This is Pakistani propaganda to break trust in our armed forces.”
Another time, in early November, a deepfake video showed General Upendra Dwivedi bashing India’s Trishul army exercises. Again, total nonsense pushed by the same bad actors.
These attacks keep coming at our defence forces because they want to weaken us from inside. By spreading lies, they hope to lower our soldiers’ spirits and make the public angry.
What the Government is Doing About Fake News
The Government of India is not sitting quiet. They have rules in place to fight this. The PIB Fact Check Unit watches social media all day. When they spot fakes, they jump in fast – like they did with this letter today.
They also have laws to punish those who spread lies that hurt the country. But the best weapon is us, the people. PIB keeps saying: “Don’t share unverified stuff. Check with us first.” You can send any doubtful message or video to @PIBFactCheck on X (Twitter) or email factcheck@pib.gov.in.
As Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a recent speech on security: “In the age of digital media, misinformation is a silent weapon. We must all be vigilant to protect our unity and truth.” (From his address at a defence seminar in October 2025.)
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, in an interview last month, added: “Our forces are strong and united. Rumours can’t change that. The public is our biggest support – stay informed from right sources.” (Quoted in The Hindu, October 15, 2025.)
And PIB Director General, in a press note today: “This fake letter is part of a pattern to target our defence. We urge citizens to report and not share. Together, we can keep India safe from lies.” (PIB official release, November 25, 2025.)
FAQs: Your Questions Answered on This Fake Letter and More
1. What exactly did the fake letter say?
The letter, dated November 22 and marked “Personal Confidential,” pretended to be from Rajnath Singh to Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. It claimed the minister was very worried and angry about the IAF making public a secret report on defence matters. This was meant to show a big fight at the top level of our defence. But nothing like this happened – it’s 100% made up to create panic and doubt.
2. How do I check if a government letter or army news is real?
Simple: Go only to official spots. Check the Ministry of Defence website (mod.gov.in), IAF’s page (indianairforce.nic.in), or PIB’s site (pib.gov.in). Follow their real social media – like @PIBFactCheck or @SpokespersonMoD on X. If something looks off, don’t share it. Send it straight to PIB Fact Check via X, WhatsApp (+91 8799711259), or email. They’ll tell you quick if it’s true or fake. Remember, real letters have official stamps and come from verified channels – not random forwards.
3. Why do bad people keep targeting our army and air force with lies?
These lies often come from enemies outside India, like some groups in Pakistan, who want to hurt us without fighting openly. Their plan? Make Indians fight each other – on caste, religion, or trust in leaders. By faking videos or letters, they lower our forces’ respect and create fear. Like in the Army Chief video case, it was to spark caste anger before elections. The goal is to make us weak inside, so India looks bad to the world. But our government and forces are alert, and with public help, we beat this every time.
4. What should I do if I already shared the fake letter?
No worry – just delete it from your chats and posts. Tell your friends and family it’s fake, and share the PIB warning instead. This stops it from going further. You’re helping keep India strong!
5. Are there more such fakes going around now?
Yes, lately there have been a few. Like a fake letter about scrapping Tejas jets, also from Pakistani accounts, debunked by PIB on November 23. And deepfakes about IAF losses in old fights. Stay alert – if it’s shocking and from unknown sources, it’s probably fake.
Stay Safe Online: A Quick Tip
In the end, we’re all in this together. Our armed forces protect us every day. Let’s protect them by not spreading lies. Share real news, check facts, and build trust. India is strong because we stand united.
For more on fighting fake news, read our earlier story: How AI Deepfakes Are Tricking India – And How AI Deepfakes Are Tricking India – And How to Spot Them.