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There is no "Love Jihad" angle in the Seoni knife attack incident - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 27, 2023
A social media post accompanied by a video claims that a Hindu girl was attacked with a knife by a Muslim boy in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh. This is being branded as yet another incident of Love Jihad. Let’s verify the claim made in this post through this article.
Claim: A Muslim boy attacked a Hindu girl in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, in yet another Love Jihad incident.
Fact: The boy who attacked the girl is a Hindu named Sushil Yadav. Local Police clarified that there is no Love Jihad angle in this incident. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
To learn more details about the viral video, we searched the internet with relevant keywords, leading to several news reports (here, here, and here) related to this incident. Reportedly, on 19 June 2023, in Seoni’s Lal Chowk, a youth named Sushil Yadav attacked a girl with a knife. Some people at the scene caught hold of him and thrashed him. The girl was later admitted to the local district hospital.
After the incident, police took Sushil into custody and started interrogating him to know why he attacked her. Reporting the incident, Naidunia wrote, ‘Kotwali police station in-charge Mahadev Nagotia told that the investigation is going on taking the accused youth Sushil Yadav in police custody. At the same time, the treatment of the girl is going on in the district hospital. Here his condition is said to be normal.’
Kotwali station in-charge Mahadev told Alt News that ‘there was no ‘Love Jihad’ angle in the case. The accused, Sushil Yadav, and his father, Shiv Kumar Yadav, are Hindus. The victim’s name is Shajroon Hussain, daughter of Shakir Hussain, and she is a Muslim.’
To sum up, There is no “Love Jihad” angle in the Seoni knife attack incident.


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There is no official figure of the number of VIPs in India - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 25, 2022
A post is being shared widely on social media with a claim that there are 5,79,092 VIPs in India, who are provided with free security, air travel, electricity, water, and medical facilities. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: There are 5,79,092 VIPs in India.
Fact: No official figure is available for the number of VIPs in India. In reply to an RTI, the ‘Ministry of Home Affairs’ said, “the term ‘VIP’ is not part of any formal official nomenclature and there is no formal procedure whereby an individual is classified as a ‘VIP’ or non-VIP for the purpose of provision of security cover”. According to a report published by the Bureau of Police Research and Department, “a total number of 19,467 Protected Persons (PPs) (Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Judges, Bureaucrats, etc.) were provided with Police protection for more than 6 months during the year 2019”. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
When we searched on the internet for information regarding the number of VIPs in India, we could not find any official figure for the number of VIPs in India. However, we came across an RTI reply given by the ‘Ministry of Home Affairs’ in July 2014. In the response, the ‘Ministry of Home Affairs’ said, “the term ‘VIP’ is not part of any formal official nomenclature and there is no formal procedure whereby an individual is classified as a ‘VIP’ or non-VIP for the purpose of provision of security cover”.
Similarly, when asked about the “details of the norms adopted by the Government for according VIP status in the country and the names of the people included under VIP category at present”, then Minister of State for Home Affairs replied in Lok Sabha saying – “There is no official nomenclature whereby any such status as a VVIP or VIP is attributed to an individual”.
According to a report published by the Bureau of Police Research and Department (BPRD), “a total number of 19,467 Protected Persons (PPs) (Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Judges, Bureaucrats, etc.) were provided with Police protection for more than 6 month during the year 2019, which has decreased in comparison to 21,300 (revised) PPs, who were provided security during 2018”. So, the number of people provided with police protection is also not high as the number of VIPs claimed in the post.
Also, it was found that the former Presidents of the USA do receive benefits after their term. The details regarding the benefits they receive can be read here and here.
To sum it up, there is no official figure for the number of VIPs in India.

source: news-factly

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Sai Krishna Muthyanolla


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There is no one with the name ‘Fatima Hemminger’ in the U.S. Air Force - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 24, 2019
A post with an image of a woman wearing hijab and U.S. Air Force uniform is being shared on Facebook with a claim that she is the first female commander of the Twelfth Air Force, which is an air combat wing of the branch. Let’s try to check the authenticity of the image in the post.
Major General Fatima Hemminger is the first female commander of the Twelfth Air Force, which is an air combat wing of the branch. She is also the first Muslim major general in the U.S. Air Force, as well as the highest ranking ‘hijabi Muslim’ within the Air Force.
Fact: There is no one in the U.S. Air Force with the name ‘Fatima Hemminger’. The photo in the post is a photoshopped image of Major General Linda S. Hemminger. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When the photo in the image was run through Google Reverse Image Search, a link to official U.S. Air Force website with an image of a woman officer can be found in the search results. In the official website of U.S. Air Force, it can be found that there is no one with the name ‘Fatima Hemminger’ but there is a women officer with last name ‘Hemminger’. Her full name is Linda S. Hemminger. She is a Major General but she is not part of any combat wing. Throughout her career, she has been mainly involved in nursing and is retired now.
The photo in the post is a photoshopped image. The original photo can be also found in the official U.S. Air Force website. Linda Hemminger’s photo has been edited and her head is replaced with the head of another girl.
To sum it up, there is no one with the name ‘Fatima Hemminger’ in the U.S. Air Force.
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There is no player with the name David Dicks, associated with the Arsenal football club. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 20, 2022
A social media post which shares a funny anecdote about one of the Arsenal football club player named ‘David Dicks’ is being widely shared. The post also shares an image of the player. Through this article let’s fact-check authenticity of the story shared in the post.
Claim: Funny anecdote about an Arsenal football club player named David Dicks.
Fact: There is no player with the name David Dicks, associated with the Arsenal football club. Further, we could not find evidence of any such incident associated with Arsenal. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Firstly, the image shared in the post is of Liam Brady, who played professional football for the Arsenal club during 1973-80 time period. And the image shared in the post was captured in 1978.
Moreover, Google search with relevant keywords did not yield any result about a player with the name David Dicks associated with the Arsenal club, although the search yielded an American soccer player, and an Australian sailor, with the same name.
There is also an Australian footballer with the same name. However, he was never associated with the Arsenal club. He died in 1982, much before the era (90s), which the post refers to.
Search on Arsenal’s official website also did not yield any such player with that name. However, we found information about a player with the name ‘John Dick’. He was first signed for Arsenal in 1898, decades before the era as claimed in the post. Further, we could not find any reports of any story in line with the one mentioned in the viral post, associated with this player.
If at all any such incident was associated with any player, there could have been numerous reports of that incident, however, we could not find any such reports which implies the viral story shared in the post could be a made up story.
To sum it up, there is no player with the name David Dicks, associated with the Arsenal football club.


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There is no ‘PM Berojgaari Bhatta Yojna - 2021’ scheme providing a monthly unemployment allowance. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 25, 2021
A registration link (archived) is being shared widely on social media asking people to fill up so that they can get a monthly unemployment allowance of up to Rs. 3800 (according to age) being provided by the government under the ‘PM Berojgaari Bhatta Yojna – 2021’ scheme. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Register on the given link and get a monthly unemployment allowance from the government under the ‘PM Berojgaari Bhatta Yojna – 2021’ scheme.
Fact: There is no central government direct benefit transfer scheme with such a name.  It is a fraudulent link. The link redirects the user to a private website and asks for personal details. It also asks the user to share the message with 5 other people to complete the registration. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has also clarified in May 2020 that the government is not running any such scheme. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
On clicking the link given in the post, it redirects the user to a website – “https://www.puchhlo.com/pmrojgar/home.html”. If the government is providing unemployment allowance, it does the registration through an official portal, not through a private website. Also, on filling up the details in the registration form given on the website, it redirects again to a different page, where the user is asked to share the link with 5 other people to complete the registration. No government initiative or scheme asks people to share a link on WhatsApp to complete the registration. It is a fraudulent website.
There is no central government direct benefit transfer scheme with such a name.  Also, when similar posts went viral in 2020, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has clarified in May 2020 that the government is not running any such scheme.
दावा –  एक व्हाट्सएप मैसेज में यह दावा किया गया है कि  'प्रधानमंत्री बेरोजगार भत्ता योजना' के अंतर्गत भारत सरकार सभी बेरोजगारों को प्रतिमाह ₹ 3500 दे रही है#PIBFactCheck: किया गया दावा और दिया गया ब्लॉग लिंक फर्जी है| भारत सरकार द्वारा ऐसी कोई योजना नहीं चलाई जा रही है pic.twitter.com/27yluwbpdq
There are also other blogs and websites with similar registration links that claim that the government is providing free laptops, smartphones, and scholarships. FACTLY has previously debunked those claims and wrote fact-check articles, which can be read here and here.
To sum it up, there is no ‘PM Berojgaari Bhatta Yojna – 2021’ scheme providing a monthly unemployment allowance.

created: January 25, 2021


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There is no political angle in the triple murder case of Murshidabad - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 15, 2019
A school teacher Bandhu Prakash Pal, his wife Beauty Pal and their son Angan were hacked to death in their house in Murshidabad, West Bengal on 08 October 2019. Since then, many Facebook users are posting that the deceased man Bandhu Prakash Pal is a BJP worker and the murder is politically motivated. Let’s analyze the authenticity of that claim.
Bandhu Prakash Pal, a deceased in Murshidabad triple murder is affiliated to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the murder of his family is politically motivated.
Fact: Bandhu Pal’s mother Maya Pal has denied his son’s association with BJP or RSS. Bandhu Pal’s neighbour and BJP district committee leader Manoj Sarkar has said that Pal isn’t associated with any political party. The West Bengal police have said that Prima Facie the case is of personal enmity and it has nothing to do with politics. So, the claim is FALSE.
Last week, a School teacher Bandhu Prakash Pal, his pregnant wife Beauty Pal and their son Angan were found dead in their house in Murshidabad. Since then, a political row broke out between BJP and the ruling TMC. BJP is attacking the Bengal government alleging that the deceased Bandhu Pal is their party worker and was killed because of his political links, while Trinamool Congress said that the murder was due to the BJP’s internal feuds.
In an interview with ‘Indian Express’, Bandhu Pal’s mother Maya Pal has said that her son doesn’t have any association with BJP or TMC or RSS. His relatives have also rubbished the claims regarding Bandhu Pal’s association with any of the political parties.
Bandhu Pal’s neighbour and BJP district committee leader Manoj Sarkar has said that Pal neither spoke anything about politics nor was he associated with any political party.
When ‘Indian Express’ also got in touch with Bengal senior RSS functionary Bidyut Roy, he condemned the murders and said that Pal was in touch with them for the past four months and is a novice. But Roy added that he wouldn’t believe that Pal was murdered because he was in touch with their organization.
As the Murshidabad triple murder incident is being shared in a political context, the West Bengal Police have put out a series of tweets insisting that it had nothing to do with politics.
as agent of some insurance and chain companies and was in a serious financial crisis.
His family members have denied affiliation with any political group. A diary note found is suggesting serious differences in the family.(2/3)
To conclude, the deceased in Murshidabad triple murder case is not politically motivated.
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created: October 15, 2019


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There is no 'Pradhan Mantri Solar Panel Yojana' scheme providing free solar panels - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 22, 2020
A post with a link claiming to be that of PM free solar panel scheme is doing rounds on social media. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Free solar panels are provided by the government under the scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Solar Panel Yojana’.
Fact: PIB through a tweet clarified that there is no such scheme called ‘Pradhan Mantri Solar Panel Yojana’ that provides free solar panels. Also, no such scheme is enlisted on the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The link (archived) provided in the post led us to blog which has details about the schem. It also lists the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) website as the official website for this scheme. The blog post also mentions that this scheme is named as Kusum Yojana and lists the benefits of the scheme. One of the benefits as stated is that an amount up to ₹ 6000 per month will be transferred under this scheme.
Taking a cue from here, we searched for relevant information regarding the scheme on the concerned ministry website. We found that the scheme PM KUSUM YOJANA indeed exists. The objective of the scheme is to increase farmer’s income, provide a reliable source for irrigation and de-dieselize the farm sector. The renewable power generated will be purchased by DISCOMs at a feed-in-tariff (FiT) determined by the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC). However, in the guidelines of the scheme, it is nowhere mentioned about ₹ 6000 assured income every month as claimed in the blog post.
On 10 July 2020 Ministry of Power issued an advisory against fraudulent websites inviting registration under PM KUSUM scheme. The advisory has called out https://kusum-yojana.co.in/ and https://www.onlinekusumyojana.co.in/ as dubious websites. The advisory states PM-KUSUM Scheme is being implemented through implementation agencies in the respective states. MNRE does not register beneficiaries under the scheme through any of its websites and therefore any portal claiming to be MNRE’s registration portal for the scheme is potentially misleading and fraudulent.
Google search with the keywords ‘PM free solar panel scheme’ led us to a tweet by PIB through which they debunked the same claim. According to the PIB tweet, there is no such government scheme with the name PM free solar panel scheme, and they rated the news as fake.
दावा : #WhatsApp पर वायरल हो रहे एक मैसेज में दावा किया जा रहा है कि सरकार द्वारा प्रधानमंत्री फ्री सोलर पैनल योजना चलाई जा रही है।#PibFactCheck : यह दावा फर्ज़ी है। केंद्र सरकार द्वारा ऐसी किसी योजना की घोषणा नहीं की गई है। pic.twitter.com/FrX3D6idhP
To sum it up, there is no such scheme called ‘Pradhan Mantri Solar Panel Yojana’ that provides free solar panels.

created: September 22, 2020


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There is no provision in the IPC that makes staring at a Woman for more than 14 seconds a punishable offence - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 29, 2022
A screenshot of a tweet made by National Crime Investigation Bureau (NCIB) is being widely shared on social media platforms. The tweet says that stating at a woman/girl for more than 14 seconds is a serious crime and can lead to jail under sections 294 and 509 of IPC.
Claim: Staring at a woman for more than 14 seconds is a serious crime and can lead to jail under sections 294 and 509 of IPC.
Fact: There is no exclusive provision in Indian Penal Code that says staring at a woman for more than 14 seconds is a punishable offence. However, staring at a woman can be deemed offensive under Section 354D of the IPC only when one stares with an explicit sexual intention bordering on the definitions of voyeurism and stalking. Also, sections 294 and 509 can be invoked against the person, if his act of staring a woman is obscene and insults the modesty of the woman. Moreover, the woman does not have to wait for 14 seconds to decide if she feels uncomfortable with someone’s presence around her. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
We searched the internet with relevant keywords and found that this tweet is made by National Crime Investigation Bureau (NCIB), a Non-Governmental Organisation with its Head Office in Lucknow.
आवश्यक जानकारी :~
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किसी भी युवती/ महिला को 14 सेकेंड से ज्यादा देखने पर हो सकती है जेल। क्योंकि जाने-अंजाने व मजाक मे ही सही किसी परिचित व अपरिचित युवती/ महिला को 14 सेकेंड से ज्यादा घूरना IPC की धारा 294 व 509 के तहत गंभीर अपराध है। ऐसे मामले छेड़छाड़ के अंतर्गत आते है।
We then studied aforesaid sections 294 and 509 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 294 talks about offences related to obscene acts and singing/uttering obscene songs/words in public places causing annoyance to others. Punishment for such offences is imprisonment up to 3 months or fine or both.
According to Section 509 that deals with the word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman, whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any woman, utters any words, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture or object shall be seen, by such woman, or intrudes upon the privacy of such woman, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and also with fine.
Though both these sections deal with obscene actions intended to insult the modesty of woman, there is no provision which sets the timeframe as 14 seconds for charging the offender. According to ‘The Hindu’, in 2016, Kerala  IPS officer Rishi Raj Singh said if a man stares at a woman for 14 seconds, he could be sent to jail under section 354 of IPC. When people criticised him for his non-existent ’14 second rule’ claim, he corrected himself by saying that it’s not the duration of the stare but whether it makes a woman uncomfortable that decides its criminality.
However, staring at a woman can be deemed offensive under Section 354D of the IPC only when one stares with an explicit sexual intention bordering on the definitions of voyeurism and stalking, say lawyers. Also, in Section 354 and its sub-sections A, B, C and D, there is no mention of the minimum time after which staring could be considered an offence. A woman does not have to wait for 14 seconds to decide if she feels uncomfortable with someone’s presence around her. Court Judgements referring these sections can be seen here and here. It is nowhere mentioned about the 14 second  limit in the above judgements.
To sum it up, there is no exclusive provision in Indian Penal Code that says staring at a woman for more than 14 seconds is a punishable offence.

created: November 29, 2022


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As on date, there is no Reliance’s Jio brand which deals with agriculture produce - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 28, 2020
Some photos of agriculture produce in bags with ‘Jio’ logo are being shared widely on social media with a claim that this is the reason why the government is not taking back the new farm laws. The post also asks people to boycott Ambani. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Photos show agriculture produce being marketed in Ambani’s Jio company bags.
Fact: As on date, there is no Reliance’s Jio brand which deals with the agriculture produce. The ‘Jio’ brand of Reliance majorly deals with digital services, not agriculture produce. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When we searched to check if Jio has started selling rice and wheat as shown in the pictures, no credible information was found.  No such brand related to the agriculture produce was found in the list of brands on the ‘Reliance Industries Limited’ (RIL) website.  It can be observed that the ‘Jio’ brand majorly deals with digital services, not agriculture produce.
Also, the ‘Jio’ brand was not found in the list of in-store retail grocery brands mentioned in the RIL’s ‘Integrated Annual Report 2019-20’. No such brand of rice, wheat or pulses were found in any of their advertisements.
On searching for the posted photos on the internet, we found a few similar rice and wheat bags with ‘Jio’ logo being shared on the internet for the last few years, much before the recent farm laws were enacted. Some of them were posted as early as April 2017.
#Jio rice – 1 Kilo rice free per day.. additional 128 grams rice will be given if 1 Kilo gets consumed in a single day 👻👻👻 pic.twitter.com/nPWM63YzLf
Also, many traders on the ‘Udaan’ website (a B2B trading platform) have used these photos for their agriculture produce in sacks with ‘Jio’ logos. A seller on ‘IndiaMART’ website is also selling Polypropylene bags with the ‘Jio’ logo. While the ‘Jio’ logo belongs to RIL, it might have been used as a marketing tactic by some other private traders. FACTLY has written to RIL  for their comments and this article will be updated with their response.
To sum it up, there is no Reliance’s Jio brand which deals with agriculture produce as on date.

created: December 28, 2020


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ఫ్రిజ్‌లో నిల్వ ఉంచిన ఆహార పదార్థాలు తినడం వల్ల క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుంది చెప్పడానికి సరైన శాస్త్రీయ ఆధారాలు లేవు. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 2, 2024
ఫ్రిజ్‌లో నిల్వ ఉంచిన ఆహార పదార్థాలు తినడం వల్లన క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుందని చెప్తూ ఉన్న పోస్ట్ ఒకటి సోషల్ మీడియాలో వైరల్ అవుతోంది. ఈ కథనం ద్వారా అందులో ఎంత నిజముందో చూద్దాం.
క్లెయిమ్: ఫ్రిజ్‌లో నిల్వ ఉంచిన ఆహార పదార్థాలు తినడం వల్ల క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుంది.
ఫాక్ట్(నిజం): అమెరికాకు చెందిన నేషనల్ లైబ్రరీ అఫ్ మెడిసిన్ రీసెర్చ్, నేషనల్ క్యాన్సర్ ఇన్స్టిట్యూట్ మరియు ఇతర సంస్థల క్యాన్సర్ పై చేసిన పరిశోధనల రిపోర్ట్స్ పరిశీలించగా  ఫ్రిజ్‌లో నిల్వ ఉంచిన ఆహార పదార్థాలు తినడం వల్లన క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుంది అని చెప్పడానికి ఎటువంటి ఆధారాలు లభించలేదు. కావున పోస్టు ద్వారా చెప్పేది తప్పు.
ముందుగా వైరల్ క్లెయిమ్ గురించి తగిన కీవర్డ్స్ ఉపయోగించి ఇంటర్నెట్ లో వెతకగా, ఫ్రిజ్‌లో నిల్వ ఉంచిన ఆహార పదార్థాలు తినడం వల్ల క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుంది అని చెప్పే ఎలాంటి రిపోర్ట్స్ లభించలేదు.
అలాగే క్యాన్సర్ గురించి మరింత సమాచారం కోసం వెతకగా, అమెరికాకు చెందిన నేషనల్ క్యాన్సర్ ఇన్స్టిట్యూట్ వారి ప్రకారం క్యాన్సర్ అనేది శరీరంలోని కొన్ని కణాలు అదుపు లేకుండా పెరిగి శరీరంలోని ఇతర భాగాలకు వ్యాపించే వ్యాధి. ట్రిలియన్ల కణాలతో రూపొందించబడిన మానవ శరీరంలో దాదాపు ఎక్కడైనా క్యాన్సర్ ప్రారంభమవవచ్చ. సాధారణంగా, మానవ కణాలు కణ విభజన అనే ప్రక్రియ ద్వారా శరీరానికి అవసరమైన కొత్త కణాలను ఏర్పరుస్తాయి. కణాలు పాతబడినప్పుడు లేదా దెబ్బతిన్నప్పుడు, అవి చనిపోయి కొత్త కణాలు వాటి స్థానంలో వస్తాయి. కొన్నిసార్లు శరీరానికి అవసరం లేకున్నా కణ విభజన అసాధారణమైన  సంఖ్యలో జరిగి కణితులగా ఏర్పడతాయి. ఈ కణితులు క్యాన్సర్ కావచ్చు లేదా క్యాన్సర్ కాకపోవచ్చు.
క్యాన్సర్ కణితులు సమీపంలోని ఇతర కణజాలాలలోకి వ్యాప్తి చెంది దాడి చేస్తాయి. అలాగే శరీరంలోని సుదూర భాగాలకు  ప్రయాణించవచ్చు.  క్యాన్సర్ కణితులు ప్రాణాంతక కణితులు. కానీ సాధారణ కణితులు సమీపంలోని కణజాలాలలోకి వ్యాపించవు లేదా దాడి చేయవు, తొలగించబడినప్పుడు సాధారణంగా ఇవి తిరిగి పెరగవు. అయితే క్యాన్సర్ కణితులు మాత్రం మళ్ళీ పెరుగుతాయి. సాధారణమైన లేదా క్యాన్సర్ కాని కణితులు కొన్నిసార్లు చాలా పెద్దవిగా ఉండీ తీవ్రమైన లక్షణాలను కలిగి ఉంటాయి. ఒక వేళ మెదడులో ఈ కణితులు ఏర్పడితే ప్రాణాంతకం కావచ్చు. క్యాన్సర్లో చాలా రకాలు ఉన్నాయి. సాధారణంగా క్యాన్సర్లు ఏర్పడే అవయవాలు లేదా కణజాలాల ఆధారంగా వాటిని పిలుస్తారు. ఉదాహరణకు, ఊపిరితిత్తుల క్యాన్సర్ ఊపిరితిత్తులలో మొదలవుతుంది మరియు మెదడు క్యాన్సర్ మెదడులో మొదలవుతుంది.
Webmd , నేషనల్ క్యాన్సర్ ఇన్స్టిట్యూట్ వారి ప్రకారం క్యాన్సర్ రావడానికి అనేక కారణలు ఉన్నాయి, అందులో కొన్ని ముఖ్యమైనవి, ధూమపానం చేయడం లేదా పొగాకు ఉత్పతులు ఉపయోగించడం వలన నోటి, ఊపిరితిత్తుల క్యాన్సర్ రావడానికి అధిక అవకాశాలు ఉన్నాయి. ఆల్కహాల్ తీసుకోవడం ద్వారా తల మరియు మెడ క్యాన్సర్ , కాలేయ క్యాన్సర్ మరియు అన్నవాహిక క్యాన్సర్‌తో సహా అనేక రకాల క్యాన్సర్‌లు వచ్చే అవకాశాలు ఎక్కువగా ఉన్నాయి. సూర్యుడి నుండి లేదా రేడియేషన్ థెరపీ నుండి వచ్చే అతినీలలోహిత కిరణాలు(UV Rays)  చర్మ క్యాన్సర్‌కు కారణం కావచ్చు. ఆస్బెస్టాస్  ఉపయోగం వల్లన ఊపిరితిత్తుల క్యాన్సర్ , స్వరపేటిక క్యాన్సర్ మరియు అండాశయ క్యాన్సర్ వచ్చే ప్రమాదం ఉంది . ప్రాసెస్ చేసిన మాంసం తినడం వల్లన కొలొరెక్టల్ క్యాన్సర్ వచ్చే అవకాశం ఉంది.
అమెరికాకు చెందిన నేషనల్ లైబ్రరీ అఫ్ మెడిసిన్ రీసెర్చ్ రిపోర్ట్ ప్రకారం ఫ్రిజ్ ఉపయోగించే ప్రజలలో గ్యాస్ట్రిక్ క్యాన్సర్ వచ్చే అవకాశం 30శాతం తక్కువగా ఉందని తెలిపింది. అయితే, ఈ ఫలితాలు మిగితా పరిశోధన ఫలితాలతో వైరుధ్యంగా ఉన్నాయి అని తమ రిపోర్టులో నేషనల్ లైబ్రరీ అఫ్ మెడిసిన్ పేర్కొన్నది. ఈ సమాచారం ఆధారంగా ఫ్రిజ్‌లో నిల్వ ఉంచిన ఆహార పదార్థాలు తినడం వల్లన క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుంది చెప్పడానికి సరైన శాస్త్రీయ ఆధారాలు లేవని నిర్థారించవచ్చు.
క్యాన్సర్ కలిగించే కారకాల గురించి తెలిపే మరిన్ని రిపోర్ట్స్ ఇక్కడ, ఇక్కడ & ఇక్కడ చూడవచ్చు. క్యాన్సర్ సంబంధించిన ఇతర సమచారం ఇక్కడ చూడవచ్చు. క్యాన్సర్ గురించిన అపోహల సమాచారాన్ని ఇక్కడ చూడవచ్చు.
చివరగా, ఫ్రిజ్‌లో నిల్వ ఉంచిన ఆహార పదార్థాలు తినడం వల్లన క్యాన్సర్ వస్తుంది చెప్పడానికి సరైన శాస్త్రీయ ఆధారాలు లేవు.

created: February 2, 2024


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There is no scientific evidence to prove cow dung is an effective shielding material against nuclear radiation - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 13, 2023
A video is being shared on social media claiming that cow dung is a good shielding material against nuclear radiation and can protect people during a nuclear war. The background audio in the video describes that cow dung can absorb alpha, beta, and gamma rays and claims that the scientific evidence had already proven that houses coated with cow dung remain unaffected by nuclear radiation. Also, the video mentions onions as another good shielding material against nuclear radiation. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Cow dung can absorb alpha, beta and gamma rays and acts as a good shielding material against nuclear radiation.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence to prove that cow dung can absorb alpha, beta and gamma rays and protect people from nuclear radiation. Usually during radiation emergencies (a large scale of release of radioactive material in the environment), it is advised to follow the radiation safety guiding principle As Low As Reasonably Achievable(ALARA). Lead (Pb) and conventional shielding materials like concrete are usually used to reduce the exposure rate of gamma or X-ray radiation. Neither cow dung nor onions were scientifically regarded as shielding materials against nuclear radiation. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
To confirm the veracity of the claims made in the post, we have looked for relevant scientific studies. Generally, nuclear radiation refers to the energy and particles that are emitted from the nucleus of an atom during various processes, such as radioactive decay or nuclear reactions. The energy emitted by the nucleus of an unstable atom, during a nuclear fission or fusion, can be in the form of tiny, fast-moving particles (alpha, beta, and neutrons) or pulsating magnetic rays or waves (gamma rays).
During a radiation emergency (a large release of radioactive material in the environment), which typically arises following the detonation of a nuclear weapon or a nuclear power plant accident, it is universally advised to follow the radiation safety guiding principle ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’ (ALARA). ALARA means avoiding exposure to radiation by following three basic protective measures in radiation safety. They are time, distance, and shielding. During a large-scale radiological release, it is advised to minimize the time of exposure, increase the distance from the source and use effective shielding materials to minimize the radiation effects on the body.
Lead (Pb) and conventional shielding materials like concrete are generally used to reduce the exposure rate of gamma or X-ray radiation. Barriers of lead, concrete, or water will provide good protection from penetrating gamma rays and X-rays. Indian Government’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) too mentioned materials with high atomic numbers (Z) like lead, steel, and concrete as good shielding materials against radiation. No scientific study mentioned cow dung as one of the shielding materials used to protect against atomic radiation.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying described several benefits of cow dung on their website but they did not mention cow dung as a shielding material against radiation.
In January 2023, while sentencing a 22-year-old man to life imprisonment for illegally transporting cattle in January 2023, a sessions judge in Gujarat’s Tapi district court said, “Science has proved houses made of cow dung remain unaffected by atomic radiation”. Several news sites reported these comments of a Gujarat Court Judge that houses coated with cow dung remain unaffected by nuclear radiation.
Similar mythical claims about the utility of cow dung were made in 2020 by Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) Chairman Vallabhbhai Kathiria. He claimed that cow dung chips can block harmful radiation from cell phones and said it is scientifically proven. The Breakthrough Science Society and many scientists slammed these statements by Vallabhai Kathiria and said that a politically motivated RKA was pushing pseudo-science by claiming that keeping cow dung cake on mobile phones was effective against radiation.
In 2011, KN Uttam, a professor in the Physics Department and a former employee in the Ministry of Science and Technology and MHRD, said that traditional methods like keeping onions in pockets and applying a layer of cow dung on the outside of the walls of houses can absorb the harmful gamma rays. But there is no scientific evidence to support his claims about onions and cow dung can be used as shielding materials against radiation. Dr S Krishnaswamy, a senior professor of Bioinformatics from Madurai Kamaraj University, said, “While cow dung might have some antiseptic properties, there is no record of it preventing any sort of radiation.”
To sum it up, there is no scientific evidence to prove cow dung is an effective shielding material against atomic radiation.


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There is no scientific evidence to prove drinking Coffee with Lemon helps shed fat - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 8, 2022
A viral post on social media accompanied by a video shows a woman losing weight after consuming a glass of hot water mixed with half lemon juice and a half teaspoon of Coffee. The video also shows this as a doctor’s suggestion. There are also a few similar videos on social media which make similar claims. Let’s fact-check these claims.
Claim: Drinking Coffee with Lemon helps lose weight
Fact: There is no conclusive evidence to prove the role of Lemon Juice in human fat reduction.  Studies show that drinking a heavy coffee dose can help lose moderate amounts of fat, but it has its side effects.  Finally, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to prove that drinking Coffee with lemon can help shed fat.  Hence the claim made in the post is Misleading.
To verify the claims made in the post, we looked for scientific studies.  According to a study by Harvard, drinking four cups of coffee per day could reduce body fat by 4%.  Derrick Alperet, the co-author of the study, opines that this could be because of Caffeine in the Coffee, which increases the metabolism and helps burn more calories and hence causes a decrease in body fat.
However, Alexandra Sowa, MD, a metabolic health physician, clinical professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine and founder of Sowell Health, in an article published by goodhousekeeping.com, says, “No doctor I know would ever recommend this as a way to lose weight,” because such caffeine boost to the body will be short-lived as the body begins to tolerate the Caffeine level.”
Use of Lemon for weight loss
We came across a study from 2008 which proved the effect of lemon polyphenols in fat reduction. But the study was performed on Mice, and no studies prove lemon’s efficiency in human fat reduction.
“Lemon water is not a miracle weight-loss food,” says Elizabeth Dejulius, a registered dietitian nutritionist with Cleveland Clinic, in an interview for TIME. According to her, lemon water could help in reducing body fat indirectly. Adding lemon to plain water could encourage people to drink more water because of the taste and stay hydrated, which counters the Thirst-Triggered food cravings. She says that thirst is often misunderstood as hunger.
Beth Czerwony, RD, a registered dietician, says, “There is nothing in lemon juice that is going to burn fat or a chemical connection to make that happen. Sorry to say, it’s not that easy.” Further, she adds, “The water keeps you fuller, which works to keep down hunger cues that make you want to eat,” explains Czerwony.
Healthline.com, writing on  popular claims about drinking coffee with lemon, states that “…..neither lemon nor Coffee can melt off fat.” Noting that the claim about drinking Coffee with lemon helps melt off fat is false; the article notes that the only way to lose weight is by consuming fewer calories or burning more.
With all this evidence, we can conclude that there is no credible evidence for stating that drinking Coffee with lemon helps shed fat, and hence, the claim made in the post is misleading.

created: August 8, 2022


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There is no scientific evidence to prove that Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies aid in weight loss - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 31, 2022
Update (31 October 2022):
Another post is being shared on social media, which links to an article about a secret mineral that helps in weight loss.
According to the article, this was discovered by a University of Toronto student, Emily Stenstrom. It further claims that this mineral, known as K3 spark mineral, can help people lose 52 pounds in 28 days. The website to which the post links is designed to look like the website of USA Today. The domain name of USA Today’s website- is usatoday.com,  while the fake website’s domain name is garciatopketo.us.com.
According to the article, the K3 spark mineral, branded as Keto AVC Gummies, is the AVC Gummies about which Factly has already written a fact-check article. The previous claim is that the Apple Cider Veniger Gummies help us lose weight. We found no scientific evidence to back the claim. You can read the detailed fact-check article below. The viral post also tries to sell the same false claim through a fake USA Today article.
The article also has a thumbnail which looks like it is from an episode of shark tank. We found no relevant evidence for this. Moreover, few media outlets debunked the shark tank gummies scam. To learn more about this, you can read here and here.
Finally, to further prove that the entire article is nothing but a scam to make people fall for the false claims and to lure them into purchasing the Keto AVC Gummies, we found that the image of Emily Stenstrom, who is the alleged discoverer of the mineral belongs to Kiah Twisselman, who lost 120 pounds of weight in 1 year.
Published (01 September 2022):
A post is being shared on social media which claims that consuming 1 apple cider Gummy a day for two weeks burns fat. There are other similar posts (here and here) doing rounds on social media. Let’s fact-check these claims in this article.
Claim: Consuming Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies burns fat.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies on weight loss. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The gum the post is referring to is Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies, as mentioned in a few similar posts (here and here) on social media. To confirm the veracity of the claims made in the post, we have looked for relevant scientific studies. A scientific study that aims to evaluate the evidence of the effect of Apple Vinegar on metabolic parameters and body weight in humans concluded that ’Due to inadequate research of high quality, the evidence for the health effects of AV is insufficient.’  Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor of Harvard Health Publishing, wrote in a blog that ‘the scientific evidence that vinegar consumption (whether of the apple cider variety or not) is a reliable, long-term means of losing excess weight is not compelling.’
In response to a question on Mayoclinic, if Drinking apple cider vinegar for weight loss work? Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.  wrote that ‘Apple cider vinegar isn’t likely to be effective for weight loss…there’s little scientific support for these claims (Weight loss claims). Studies of apple cider vinegar for weight loss have not consistently shown significant and sustainable weight loss across diverse groups of people.’
Carol S. Johnston, a professor of nutrition and associate dean of the nutrition program at Arizona State University, told USA Today that “Research does not show a benefit with weight loss in humans.”
In their article titled ‘Are There Benefits to Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies?’ Healthline wrote, ‘Health marketers claim that taking ACV gummies can promote weight loss. The research concludes that this claim is baseless. A review of 13 human and 13 animal studies concluded that there was not enough credible evidence to determine whether ACV has any beneficial effects on weight loss. More comprehensive research is needed before suggesting that ACV gummies offer any help in weight management.’
“Most of the weight-loss claims [of Apple Cider Vinegar]stem from animal studies,” told Alice Figueroa, M.P.H., R.D.N., a registered dietitian and founder of Alice in Foodieland to Shape.com. “A 2016 study, for example, found that ACV prevents obesity in rats. Such animal studies have linked acetic acid, the main component of ACV, to reduced fat storage and improved metabolism — but these effects don’t necessarily apply to humans.  She also told them that currently, “there’s no peer-reviewed research on apple cider vinegar gummies”. She concluded saying, ‘There isn’t enough compelling research to classify ACV as a weight-loss intervention.’
To sum up, there is no scientific evidence to prove that Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies aid in weight loss.

created: October 31, 2022


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There is no scientific evidence to prove that chanting the ‘Vitthal, Vitthal’ mantra can prevent heart attacks - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 29, 2023
A post shared on social media claims that chanting the ‘Vitthala, Vitthala’ mantra can help prevent heart attacks. The post shared a video that mentioned a research study that confirmed a connection between the ‘Vitthala, Vitthala’ mantra and heart diseases. The video stated that the one-year research study confirmed that chanting the ‘Vitthala, Vitthala’ mantra for 9 minutes every day could prevent people from suffering from several heart diseases. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Chanting the ‘Vitthala, Vitthala’ mantra for 9-10 minutes every day can help prevent heart attacks.
Fact: According to a study conducted on 30 individuals by the ‘Asian Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine,’ chanting the ‘Vitthal, Vitthal’ mantra for 9 minutes daily over 10 days showed improvements in various health indicators, including blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate compared to baseline measurements. However, the research did not state that chanting the ‘Vitthal, Vitthal’ mantra can help prevent heart attacks. Hence, the claim made in the post is Misleading.
Upon searching for the details of the claims made in the post, we found a research study published by the ‘Asian Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine’ in 2014, regarding the effect of chanting the ‘Vitthal’ mantra on the heart.  The research study was conducted by various medical research institutes based in Pune. The clinical study was conducted on 30 healthy individuals over a period of 10 days. These 30 people were made to chant the ‘Vitthal, Vitthal’ mantra daily for 9 minutes.
Following a 10-day clinical observation, the research study indicated that the health metrics, including blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate, of the thirty individuals had shown improvement compared to their initial readings.
But this study nowhere stated that chanting the ‘Vitthal, Vitthal’ can help prevent heart attacks in people. Also, the research study provided a disclaimer in the conclusion stating- “The present exploratory study throws light on the relationship between chanting Vitthal and physiologic and energy profile of Heart. A large-scale clinical trial can be conducted in the future to explore the role of chanting Vitthal not only in Healthy Volunteers as well as cardiac patients.”
However, a few research studies stated that chanting the word ‘Om’ and a few other mantras can help to reduce stress and improve mental health. Some other studies say that meditation and music can improve heart health to some extent.
While there is no conclusive evidence that solely engaging in mantra chanting and meditation can entirely prevent heart diseases, the control of heart-related conditions can be partially achieved through practices such as consuming nutritious food, engaging in regular exercise, ensuring proper sleep, and avoiding stress and harmful addictions.
To sum it up, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to prove that chanting the ‘Vitthal, Vitthal’ mantra can help prevent heart attacks.

created: December 29, 2023


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There is no scientific evidence to prove that Coronavirus dies at 70°C - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 16, 2020
A post claiming that inhaling steam helps in containing the effect of the coronavirus is doing rounds. The post claims that inhaling steam helps in reaching the coronavirus hidden behind the paranasal sinus and at 70-degree centigrade, the virus gets killed. Also, the post suggests steam inhalation once a day as a cure for COVID-19. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Inhaling steam reaches the coronavirus hidden behind the paranasal sinus and kills it at 70°C.
Fact: WHO has clarified that steam inhalation does not prevent one from catching COVID-19. Also, they cautioned that extremely hot steam can be harmful to humans, as there is a risk of burn injury. UNICEF through a fact-check story debunked the claim that coronavirus dies within five minutes at 70°C.  The PIB through a tweet stated that there is no scientific evidence to prove inhaling of hot water steam kills coronavirus.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
World Health Organization, Philippines through its Facebook post has clarified that steam inhalation does not prevent one from catching COVID-19. Also, they cautioned that extremely hot steam can be harmful, as there is a risk of burn injury.
According to WHO ‘Exposure to the sun or temperatures above 25°C does NOT prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19). You can catch COVID-19 regardless of sunny or hot weather. High-temperature countries have reported COVID-19 cases.’
Steam inhalation does not feature in WHO’s list of advices for the public about the virus, nor in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) measures to protect against the virus.
In a bid to bust the myths around COVID-19, UNICEF has fact-checked the claim that ‘coronavirus dies within five minutes at 70°C’ and rated the information as incorrect. As per this fact-check story, when they contacted the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro (IJZ CG) seeking a clarification, the institute said, ‘As for the evidence of survival – evidence is only available from “in vitro” studies – that is, from experiments that analyzed the survival of the virus under ideal conditions. In ideal conditions, the virus can survive for several days, but its numbers decline dramatically in the environment after that time. We cannot suggest precise timeframes, but two weeks is certainly not even close to what has been proven in the lab.’
Also PIB through a tweet clarified that there is no scientific evidence to prove inhaling of hot water steam kills coronavirus.
There is no scientific evidence to prove that inhaling hot water steam kills #Coronavirus.
Remember: Respiratory hygiene, social distancing and washing hands are effective measures to prevent #Covid19
Let’s spread facts, not fear and contribute to #IndiaFightsCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/fD6PYI68Ds
To sum it up, there is no scientific evidence to conclude that at 70°C, coronavirus gets killed and steam inhalation prevents one from catching COVID-19.

created: September 16, 2020


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There is no scientific evidence to prove that sauna blankets help lose body fat - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 18, 2022
A social media post with a video showing a person getting wrapped in a sauna blanket is being widely shared. The post claims that sauna blanket treatment helps to lose inches. The post description reads ‘Sauna Blanket treatment rejuvenate the muscles while get rid of harmful toxins! #detox #musclerecovery #bodysculptingtreatment #saunablanket #loseinches #sweatchallenge.’  Let us fact check the claim in this post.
Claim: Sauna blankets aid in reducing body fat.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence to prove that sauna blankets aid in reducing body fat. Any kind of Sauna help generate sweat, the weight loss that results in it is just water loss, and the human body replenishes it once food or water is consumed. Hence, the claim made in this post is MISLEADING.
Saunas are small heated rooms in which people sit for a sauna bath. Typically, they use dry heat and have been in use for centuries. They are generally used for relaxing purposes and have other benefits too.
Sauna blanket also uses the same principle as Sauna baths. They use far infrared technology to heat the body from the inside. The user has to plug the blanket and wrap themselves inside it.
We looked on the internet for relevant scientific evidence from well-known organisations like CDC– Center for Disease Control and NCBI. We did not find any research that backed the claim that Sauna Blanket can reduce fat. However, we found a research paper written on the ‘Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing’. This research was concluded by stating that ‘Regular infrared and/or Finnish sauna bathing has the potential to provide many beneficial health effects, especially for those with cardiovascular-related and rheumatological disease, as well as athletes seeking improved exercise performance.’ But nothing was proven about the effectiveness of sauna baths in weight loss.
We found a fact-check article written  by THIP media, which rated this claim as Half-Truth. Dr Kashyap Dakshini, General Physician, told them, “Using Sauna blankets will remove the ‘easily replaceable water from the body, as the heat makes one sweat, it will lead to fluid loss. The water/fluid loss is the reason for a lower weight on the scale after a sauna session, which will be regained upon consumption of fluids/liquids. If used with clothes on, Sauna blankets should not impose any risk, except for those who are insensitive to heat“.
In an interview given to Camillesyles.com, Dee Anna Glaser, a dermatology professor at St. Louis University, said the problem with this claim is half of the equation is missing: fat burning. While infrared saunas make you sweat, they don’t trigger fat burning, which means they can’t help your body eliminate toxins.
Healthline.com, in their article about the benefits and risks of saunas, wrote, “Saunas aren’t effective for weight loss because the only weight lost is fluid weight, and your body will replenish the lost fluid as soon as you eat or drink.” This means that the body will regain the weight as soon as we drink water.
To sum it up, there is no scientific evidence to prove that sauna blankets help lose body fat.


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There is no scientific evidence to show that ageing starts from the feet upwards - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 13, 2021
A post is being widely shared on social media claiming that ageing starts from the feet upwards. Let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Ageing starts from the feet upwards.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence to show that ageing starts from the feet upwards. Ageing is complex as it impacts different body parts differently. As one ages, the performance of many parts like heart, kidneys, brain, lungs, etc decline. The focus is not particularly on one part of the body for everyone and varies for each individual. Walking for at least 150 minutes a week is generally recommended for healthy ageing. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
According to the World Health Organisation, there are certain common health conditions associated with ageing which include hearing loss, cataracts, diabetes, dementia, osteoarthritis, etc. “As people age, they are more likely to experience several conditions at the same time.” There is no specific mention of ageing starting from the feet upwards.
According to the World Report on Ageing and Health published by WHO, the changes that constitute and influence ageing are complex. “At a biological level, ageing is associated with the gradual accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage. Over time, this damage leads to a gradual decrease in physiological reserves, an increased risk of many diseases, and a general decline in the capacity of the individual. Ultimately, it will result in death.” And these changes are also said to be neither linear nor consistent.
As one ages, the performance of many parts like the heart, kidneys, brain, lungs, etc declines. The focus is not particularly on one part of the body for everyone.
Ageing and the feet:
The feet are one of the most important parts of the body because it is required to do many different activities such as walking, running, and climbing. As one gets older, the skin thins, and you become more prone to conditions affecting the feet. “The foot’s ligaments, fascia and skin start to lose elasticity, while the skin begins to harden.” Many such changes happen, however, there is no scientific evidence that ageing starts from the feet upwards.
According to the CDC, moving more and sitting less throughout the day is good for one’s body and helps in healthy ageing. Walking for at least 150 minutes a week is generally recommended.
To sum it up, there is no scientific evidence to show that ageing starts from the feet upwards.

created: December 13, 2021


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There is no scientific evidence to state applying ginger oil can help in Weight Loss or Hair Growth - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 28, 2022
Update (28 November 2022):
Another video is being shared on social media, which is a commercial for a hair growth serum. According to the video, the serum contains ginger extract, which stimulates the hair follicles and encourages hair growth. Let’s fact-check this claim through this article.
Claim: ‘King of Ginger’- a hair serum containing ginger extract stimulates the hair follicles and encourages hair growth.
Fact: Although ginger is used in East Asian medicine to treat hair fall, There is no scientific evidence that ginger helps the growth of hair. On the contrary, a study suggested that it can suppress human hair growth. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Searching on the internet with relevant keywords to find the claim’s veracity led us to a scientific research article. This study was performed by researchers on the effect of 6-gingerol, the main component of ginger, on human hair growth. It was found that 6-gingerol does not promote hair growth, but on the contrary, it can suppress human hair growth.
Regarding the side effects of using ginger as a remedy for hair loss, Healthline states, ‘Despite the fact that ginger is a natural substance, it can present side effects in some people. It’s always a good idea to check with a doctor beforehand, especially if you take medications or have any pre-existing conditions.’ You can find their full article titled ‘Can Using Ginger on Your Hair or Scalp Improve Its Health?’ here.
To sum up, there is no conclusive evidence to prove that Ginger promotes hair growth.
Published (17 May 2022):
A social media post claiming that the use of ginger oil on belly button would reduce fat and helps in weight loss is being widely shared. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Applying ginger oil on belly button would burn fat ten times faster and eventually help in weight loss.
Fact: Experts have clarified that there is no scientific evidence to say that ginger oil would help in weight loss. There are reports and research papers which state ginger water helps in weight loss. Gingerol, a bioactive compound in ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which help in weight loss. However, there are no reports or research studies to say applying ginger oil on naval would reduce belly fat or helps in weight loss. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
According to reports, gingerol, a bioactive compound in ginger has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which help in weight loss. ‘Ginger aids in colon cleansing, helping you to get rid of harmful toxins while promoting healthy digestion. By increasing digestive efficiency with diet, you can shed extra fat and boost metabolism, and thus make weight loss much easier and effective’ reported the article.
However, in order to avail the weight loss benefits of  ginger, these reports suggest intake of ginger water rather than applying ginger oil as claimed in the post.
Further, preliminary research on rats revealed that ginger water would reduce body weight gain and improve energy expenditure. Ginger possesses various therapeutic properties, such as antioxidant effects and anti-inflammatory impacts.
As far as applying ginger oil is concerned, experts have clarified that application of ginger oil on naval is unlikely to show any impact. Earlier speaking to experts, AFP debunked a similar claim saying there is no scientific evidence to prove ginger oil would help in weight loss.
‘Donna Ryan, a researcher on obesity and professor emerita at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University, said there is “nothing in the scientific literature” to support the claim that it can eliminate cellulite, or subcutaneous fat that creates dimples under the skin’, reported AFP.
While there are reports of ginger water helping in weight loss, we could not find any reports regarding application of ginger oil on belly button helping  weight loss.
To sum it up, there is no scientific evidence to state that applying ginger oil on belly button can help weight loss.

created: November 28, 2022


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There is no scientific evidence to suggest that drinking tea can cure COVID-19 - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 28, 2020
A message is being shared widely on social media with a claim that Dr. Li Wenliang (the Chinese Whistleblower doctor) has proposed a cure for COVID-19. It is being claimed that drinking tea can cure COVID-19 virus as it contains methylxanthines (caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline). Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Drinking tea can cure COVID-19.
Fact: While it is true that tea contains methylxanthines, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that drinking tea can cure COVID-19. Also, none reported about Dr. Li Wenliang, an Ophthalmologist, suggesting any such cure. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When searched about ‘Breaking News from CNN’ regarding Dr. Li Wenliang, the articles published by CNN on Dr. Li Wenliang were found in the search results. But, none of them mentioned about Dr. Li Wenliang, an Ophthalmologist, suggesting a cure for COVID-19. CNN reported that Dr. Li Wenliang is the ‘first medical professional to sound the alarm on the Wuhan coronavirus weeks before he contracted the illness himself and died.’ Dr. Li Wenliang died in February 2020. More information regarding Dr. Li Wenliang can be found here and here. Even other news agencies have not reported anything about Dr. Li Wenliang suggesting a cure for COVID-19.
In a research article, it was found that ‘caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline are the most well-known compounds of the family of methylxanthines and are naturally present in tea leaves, yerba mate, coffee beans, cocoa beans, kola nuts and guarana berries’. It can be also read that ‘the toxicity of methylxanthines in humans is relatively low and moderate consumption presents some health benefits’. But no evidence was found to say that they can cure COVID-19. More about Methylxanthines can be read here and here. Also, on the WHO website, it can be read that, as of today (28 April 2020), there is no cure for COVID-19.
To sum it up, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that drinking tea can cure COVID-19.
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There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that coconut oil can prevent or cure Dengue - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 11, 2023
A post claiming that coconut oil acts as an antibiotic and applying it below one’s knees till footsteps would prevent dengue as the mosquito causing dengue cannot fly above the knees. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Coconut oil acts as an antibiotic and can prevent one from having mosquito bite.
Fact: Dengue is a viral infection while antibiotics are used in treating bacterial infections. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that coconut oil can prevent or cure dengue fever. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
When we searched about Dengue spread and causes using relevant keywords, we found the website of the World Health Organisation explaining this in its newsroom section. Dengue is a viral infection caused by female mosquitoes whereas, antibiotics are primarily used to treat bacterial infections. As per WHO, ‘The mosquito can fly up to 400 meters looking for water-filled containers to lay their eggs but usually remains close to the human habitation.’
In subsequent research, we found that Coconut oil’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties make it a natural option for various purposes, such as skincare and oil pulling, etc. However, no study shows that it is a replacement for antibiotics when it comes to treating severe bacterial infections. AFP previously debunked a similar claim by mentioning several experts refuting the claim.
To sum up, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that coconut oil can prevent or cure Dengue.

created: September 11, 2023


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There is no scientific study to prove testicular blow is more painful than childbirth - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 15, 2023
A social media post claims that kicking a man’s testicles produces 9000 del of pain, supposedly equal to the pain of having 132 children or breaking 3200 bones simultaneously. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Kicking a man’s testicles produces 9000 del of Pain, which is equivalent to the pain of producing 132 children or breaking 3200 bones simultaneously.
Fact: There is no scientific study proving that testicular blow is more painful than childbirth. In fact, comparing these two pains is not appropriate, as pain is subjective and varies among individuals. Further, there is no recognized unit of measurement for pain by the name ‘del’. Mostly scientists are using a 10-point scale to measure pain, thus indicating that the claim of 9000 del lacks credibility and is arbitrary, lacking any scientific basis. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
It is true that testicles are highly sensitive and prone to pain due to the abundance of nerve endings they contain. Blunt trauma like a kick can cause intense and immediate discomfort, which typically diminishes relatively rapidly. Nevertheless, no scientific research directly compares the pain inflicted by such an incident to the pain experienced during childbirth.
Furthermore, the viral post asserts that pain is measured in a unit called ‘del’, but in reality, there is no recognized unit of measurement for pain by that name. In the 1940s, a pain assessment system called the “Dol scale” was established, which utilized a dolorimeter, an instrument designed to gauge pain intensity.
It is probable that the viral post could be referring to ‘dol’ as ‘del’. However, it should be noted that the Dol scale assesses pain on a scale ranging from 1 to 10. Later scientists started using a 10-point scale to measure the pain, with 0 meaning no pain and 10 meaning extreme pain. Even the credibility of this system has been called into doubt, and to this day, there remains a lack of universally accepted and unbiased means to quantify pain. This indicates that the claim of 9000 del in the viral post lacks credibility and is arbitrary, lacking any scientific basis.
Additionally, it is not suitable to compare the pain of childbirth with the pain caused by a kick to a man’s testicles, as both experiences are subjective and vary among individuals. Getting kicked in the testicles results in a momentary surge of pain that gradually subsides, whereas labor pain occurs in recurring waves and can persist for several hours.
In 2013, ASAPScience conducted an investigation into the same question; however, they were unable to reach a conclusive answer regarding which of the two causes more pain. The same claim is being shared since 2010. Snopes, a fact-checking agency debunked the same earlier.
To sum it up, there is no scientific study to prove testicular blow is more painful than childbirth.


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There is no such American survey rating Manmohan Singh as the most honest person in the world - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 29, 2021
A social media post claiming that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh topped an American survey of 50 most honest people in the world is being shared across social media platforms. The post further claims that Manmohan Singh is the only Indian to be featured on the list. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Manmohan Singh topped an American survey of 50 most honest people in the world.
Fact: Although Manmohan Singh was conferred with few international awards and featured in a Times survey, there is no such American survey rating Manmohan Singh as the most honest person in the world. If at all any such survey by the US indeed features Manmohan Singh as claimed, news agencies would have reported it. However, we could not find any news articles which reported such a survey. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Google search with relevant keywords did not yield any such American survey stating former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the most honest person in the world. However, the search yielded us few news articles which reported Manmohan Singh featuring in Time 2010 – The 100 Most Influential People in the world list, and him being awarded few international awards like ‘The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers’  by Japan for his contribution to India-Japan ties, he is the first Indian to receive the honour, also the World Statesman Award by the US.
If at all any such survey by the US indeed features Manmohan Singh as claimed in the post, news agencies would have reported it. However, we could not find any news articles which reported such a survey. Hence, this proves that there isn’t any such survey.
FACTLY had earlier debunked a similar claim that an American survey had rated PM Modi as the most honest leader of the world.
To sum it up, there is no such survey rating Manmohan Singh as the most honest person in the world.


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There is no such American survey that ranked Modi as the most honest political leader - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 5, 2019
A post is being shared on Facebook by many users claiming that an American survey has ranked Modi as the most honest leader in the world. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
The archived version of the post can be found here.
In an American survey, Modi is the only Indian to be included in the ‘Top 50 Honest Leaders Ranking’ and also, he topped that list.
There is no such ranking in the world and also, no official source has written anything about it. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When searched for Modi ranking in the various rankings published across the world, it was found that many organizations have ranked him in their surveys but the survey quoted in the post has not been found. Some of the surveys where Modi has been ranked are ‘Forbes Powerful People’, ‘Gallup International – Opinion of Global Leaders’, ‘Most followed on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter’, and
‘Bloomberg Markets Most Influential Rankings’.
Generally, when the Prime Minister of India wins any award in other countries it is reported by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the official public relations wing of the government.  But there is no such information on the survey quoted in the post. Also, when searched for the ‘Honest Indian Political Leader’ on Google, it can be found that similar posts are made on Manmohan Singh in the past, which are debunked by the other fact checkers.
Finally, there is no such survey on Honest Leaders which placed Modi as the most honest political leader.


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There is no such contraindication saying Women can’t take COVID vaccine during their periods - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 24, 2021
A post advising women not to take the COVID-19 vaccine before and after five days of their menstrual cycle is being shared across social media platforms. Also, in support of the argument, the post claims that dosage of vaccine would first decrease immunity and later builds immunity, which poses a high risk of attack for one who gets vaccinated during their periods. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Women should not take the COVID-19 vaccine before and after five days of their periods.
Fact: Ministry of Health & Family welfare did not mention anything regarding the vaccination of women during their menstrual cycle under the contraindications (conditions that suggest one should not take the vaccine) section, which implies women can get vaccinated during their periods. None of the health agencies like WHO, CDC, ICMR suggested that menstruating women should not take the COVID-19 vaccine.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Ministry of Health & Family welfare did not mention any such scenario stating that menstruating women should avoid taking vaccine before and after five days of the beginning of their menstruation cycle or for that matter during any day of their menstruation cycle, under the contraindications (conditions that suggest one should not take the vaccine) section regarding the vaccination guidelines. This advisory advises pregnant & lactating women to not take the vaccine. However, there is no such mention regarding menstruating women as far as the COVID-19 vaccination is considered.
International health agencies like World Health Organization (WHO) and America’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also did not mention anything like menstruating women should avoid taking the vaccine for a certain period of time in their advisory regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. Even the ICMR did not issue any such advisory regarding vaccination as far as menstruating women is concerned.
Even the Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech, developers of ‘Covishield’ and ‘Covaxin’, which are the only two vaccines being administered to Indians currently did not mention any contraindication that talks about women during their periods. Their fact-sheets released for these vaccines do not contain any such information. This implies that menstruating women can safely get vaccinated at any point of time during their periods.
When the same news regarding vaccination of women during their periods went viral, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) through a tweet has categorically stated that the news is fake and everyone above 18 should get vaccinated after 01 May 2021.
#Fake post circulating on social media claims that women should not take #COVID19Vaccine 5 days before and after their menstrual cycle.
Don't fall for rumours!
All people above 18 should get vaccinated after May 1. Registration starts on April 28 on https://t.co/61Oox5pH7x pic.twitter.com/JMxoxnEFsy
When a Twitter user tweeted the same image asking for clarification regarding the information, Dr. Tanaya, Sexual Health Influencer of the year 2020 replied stating that the information is not true, and it is safe to take the vaccine during periods.
Nope, this is extremely untrue. It’s safe to take the vaccine on your period. A) Your immunity is not low on your period. B)The vaccine does not lower your immunity, it BUILDS your immunity. Please get the vaccine asap, and ignore these fake claims! #VaccinesSaveLives
When similar claims linking the menstrual cycle to vaccination went viral on social media in other countries, verywellhealth wrote a fact-check in consultation with doctors. In this fact-check, it is categorically mentioned that menstruation is not a contraindication for COVID-19 vaccination. Another fact-check article related to the same topic can be read here.
The New York Times reported Alice Lu-Culligan and Dr. Randi Hutter Epstein at Yale School of Medicine stating that “So far, there is no data linking the vaccines to changes in menstruation” when some people have reported changes to their periods and wondered if they were linked to the vaccine.
If at all taking vaccine during periods would pose a risk, the government & all the related agencies would have issued an advisory in this regard. However, we could not find any such advisory or even for that matter any report in any credible journal or by a news organization advising women to not take the vaccine during their periods. All these imply that women can safely get vaccinated at any time during their periods.
To sum it up, there is no such contraindication advising women not to take the COVID-19 vaccine during their periods.


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There is no such scheme called ‘Ek Parivar Ek Naukri’ providing one job to every family pan India - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 10, 2020
A post with a video claiming that ‘Ek Parivar Ek Naukri Yojana’ is being implemented in Sikkim and that it is going to be implemented pan India is being shared on social media.  The video also explains the details and application procedure of the scheme. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Government through ‘Ek Parivar Ek Naukri Yojana’ provides one job to every family.
Fact: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) through a tweet debunked the claim stating that the government has no such plan to launch a scheme offering a job to a member of every family and their tweet rated the news as fake. Also, the web address provided in the video is not working which proves that it is a dubious website. Also, we could not find any credible source which reported about a plan to implement the ‘one family, one job’ scheme throughout India.  Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Google search with relevant keywords led us to a tweet by PIB which has the same claim. According to their tweet, the government has no such plan to launch a scheme offering a job to a member of every family. And their tweet rated the news as fake.
#PIBFACTCHECK:
वायरल वीडियो में दावा किया जा रहा है कि केंद्र सरकार की "एक परिवार एक नौकरी योजना" के अनुसार हर परिवार के एक सदस्य को सरकारी नौकरी दी जाएगी |
यह दावा झूठा है | केंद्र सरकार की ऐसी कोई भी योजना नहीं है |#fakenews alert ! pic.twitter.com/fQ2N1OxRd9
The website link provided in the video for the application i.e. ‘EPESNY.nic.in’ is not working. This proves that it is a dubious website. Also, we could not find any credible source that reported about the government’s plan to implement the ‘one family, one job’ scheme which is being implemented in Sikkim and will be extended across India. With all this, we can say that there is no such pan India cheme offering one job to every family.
To sum it up, there is no such pan India government scheme offering one job to every family.

created: November 10, 2020


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There is no scheme with the name 'PM Kisan Tractor Yojana' - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 22, 2020
A post claiming that the central government is providing tractors to farmers with 50% subsidy through the ‘PM Kisan Tractor Yojana’ is being widely shared on social media. A video explaining the scheme is also shared in the post. Through this article lets fact-check the claim made in the post.
The Central Government is providing tractors to farmers with 50% subsidy through PM Kisan Tractor Yojana.
Fact: According to a tweet by PIB, no such scheme called PM Kisan Tractor Yojana is being implemented by the central government. They rated the news as fake. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Google search using the keywords’ PM Kisan Tractor Yojana’ led us to a tweet by PIB on 15 August 2020 clearing the air around thi rumour. Their tweet categorically states that there is no such scheme with the name PM Kisan Tractor Yojana and that the government is not implementing any such scheme. The tweet rated the news as fake.
दावा: केंद्र सरकार पीएम किसान ट्रैक्टर योजना के तहत आधे दाम में ट्रैक्टर मुहैया करा रही है।#PIBFactCheck : केंद्र सरकार द्वारा ऐसी कोई योजना नहीं चलाई जा रही। pic.twitter.com/0qTbN9KxgP
Further, no such scheme is listed in the ‘Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)’ website of the government. The website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare also does not list any such scheme.
To sum it up, there is no such central government scheme called PM Kisan Tractor Yojana.
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There is no such ‘Scooty Yojana’ scheme launched by the Modi Government - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 10, 2019
A video alleging that the Modi government has launched a ‘Scooty Yojana’ scheme has been viral on YouTube and is being shared on social media platforms. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
Modi government has launched ‘Scooty Yojana’ scheme to distribute scooters to all the girls across the country, who passed 10th standard.
Fact: There is no such ‘Scooty Yojana’ scheme launched by the Central Government. In Tamilnadu, there is ‘Amma Scooter Scheme’ but the beneficiaries are restricted to that state itself. In Jammu & Kashmir, also, there is such a scheme but the beneficiaries are covered within that state. Hence, the claims made in the post stands FALSE.
When googled to check if there is any such scheme as claimed in the post, no supporting information was found. If Modi has launched such a scheme nationwide, it would have been reported in all the major newspapers across the country. When searched on government websites to check the details about the scheme, no such scheme was found. Usually, when Central Government launches any scheme, information about it would be released through ‘Press Information Bureau’. When searched for the press release about the scheme, no such thing was found.
Last year, newspapers have reported that Modi has launched ‘Amma Scooty Yojana’ in Tamilnadu. As per the scheme, working women who intend to purchase a scooter will be given a subsidy of 50% or Rs 25,000 in cash. ‘Amma Scooty Yojana’ is a Tamilnadu state-sponsored scheme and beneficiaries within the state can avail it. In 2016, the Jammu & Kashmir government has also launched a scooty scheme that aims to provide scooters to the girls who are going to college. This scheme is also a state-sponsored scheme and beneficiaries are restricted to within the state.
Not only Tamil Nadu and J&K, even Rajasthan has its own scooty scheme. In Rajasthan, there are two schemes under which scooty vehicles are given: ‘Medhavi Chathra Scooty Yojana’ and ‘Devnarayan Chathra Scooty Yojana’. Each scheme has its own set of eligibility criteria but both of them are state-specific schemes under the Rajasthan State Government. So, these schemes are also not related to any ‘Scooty scheme’ which is nation-wide.
To summarise, the Modi government hasn’t launched any ‘Scooty Yojana’ scheme that distributes scooters to girls across the country.
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There is no such ‘White House Survey’ that ranked Manmohan Singh as the most loyal person in the world - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 19, 2019
On Facebook, a post is being shared by many users claiming that the White House in the USA has ranked Manmohan Singh as the most loyal person in the world in its survey of 50 people. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
‘White House’ has ranked Manmohan Singh as the most loyal person in the world in its survey.
Fact: There is no such ranking given by ‘The White House’ in the USA. Also, no official source has written anything about Manmohan being ranked as the most loyal person in the world. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When searched for Manmohan Singh being ranked in the surveys published across the world and also the international awards conferred to him, he was found to have secured a few. But no information about the survey that declared Manmohan Singh as the most loyal person in the world was found. Some of the awards conferred to and surveys that ranked Manmohan were- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, World Statesman Award, The 100 Most Influential people in the world-TIME 2010.
When looked for more information, it was found that when US President Barack Obama had hosted the 14th and final formal State Arrival Ceremony and State Dinner in 2016, Chief White House photographer has shared glimpses from some of the other state dinners hosted by the Obama administration over the last eight years. This photo series began with the image of Manmohan couple seen escorted by the Obama couple. The reason for this photo being shown first is that Manmohan’s visit to the United States on November 24, 2009 was the first official State Visit hosted by President Obama after he was voted into power
Earlier, a rumour with a similar claim that America has named Modi as the most honest politician in the world was widely shared and Factly has written a fact-check article on it. To summarize, no ‘White House Survey’ has ranked Manmohan Singh as the most loyal person in the world
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There is no Supreme Court order which makes the person feeding stray dogs liable for it’s bite - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 20, 2022
A post is being widely shared claiming that according to a Supreme Court’s order, if a stray dog bites a human, the person who feeds that dog should bear the treatment and compensation costs. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: According to Supreme Court’s order, if a stray dog bites a human, the person who feeds that dog should bear the treatment and compensation costs.
Fact: Supreme Court has not passed any such judgement. The case regarding the compensation for stray dog bites is still being heard. As of 20 September 2022, Kerala is the only state in the country which gives compensation for the victims of stray dog bites. However, the compensation is provided by local governments. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING
We searched the internet with relevant keywords and couldn’t find any such order by the Supreme Court. Also, a Supreme Court order on 09 September 2022 in Animal welfare board of India vs. People for elimination of stray troubles case requested the Siri Jagan Committee to file the status report regarding the stray dog bite compensation issue at least 7 days before the next hearing date on 29 September 2022.
Also, according to the reports by Indian Express and India Today, Kerala is the only state in India to have a committee (Siri Jagan committee) to decide compensation for cases of stray dog bites. The compensation will be paid by the local government depending on the nature of the wounds and gravity of the accident caused by stray dog.
To sum it up, there is no supreme court judgement that says the person who feeds the stray dog is liable in case of dog bites.

created: September 20, 2022


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There is no ‘three tick marks’ feature on WhatsApp. Also, the government will not be able to read messages. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 21, 2024
Update (21 February 2024): On 21 February 2024, when a similar post went viral claiming that the public’s social media accounts and phone calls were being monitored by the Government of India, the fact-checking unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified that no such rules have been imposed by the GOI. They also urged people to refrain from sharing such false information.
A message regarding three tick marks on WhatsApp is being shared widely across social media platforms. Let’s check the authenticity of that message.
On WhatsApp, three blue ticks indicate that the message was read by the government, two blue ticks and a red tick indicates that action can be taken against the sender by the government, a blue tick and two red ticks indicate that action against the sender has been started by the government, and three red ticks indicate that the government has taken strict action against the sender and he/she will soon get summons from the court.
Fact: There is no ‘three tick marks’ feature on WhatsApp. The messages on WhatsApp are protected with end-to-end encryption. The government will not be able to read them. So, the information in the post regarding three tick marks is FALSE.
The information regarding tick marks can be seen on the website of ‘WhatsApp’. In the FAQ section, there is information about a single tick mark and two tick marks, but there is no mention about three tick marks on their platform. So, there is no such feature on WhatsApp.
On that website, when searched if any third person other than the sender and recipient could read WhatsApp message, it was found that messages in WhatsApp are protected with end-to-end encryption, so, not only the government, even the WhatApp company officials will not be able to read them. However, there have been reports in May 2019 that certain persons were put under surveillance using a spyware and security flaw in the app.
Also, when you check on their website for what kind of information WhatsApp shares with the government agencies when sought for, it was found that they only give information about profile photo, group information and address book details.
There is no ‘three tick marks’ feature on WhatsApp. Also, the government will not be able to read messages.
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created: February 21, 2024


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కర్ణాటక అసెంబ్లీ ఎన్నికల్లో కాంగ్రెస్ గెలిచిన తర్వాత అక్కడ పాకిస్తాన్ జెండాలు ఎగురవేశారు అనే ప్రచారంతో షేర్ చేయబడుతున్న ఈ ఫొటోలో వాస్తవం లేదు. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 22, 2023
కాంగ్రెస్ వస్తే భారత దేశం పాకిస్థాన్ అవుతుంది అని రుజువు చేశారు అని చెప్తూ,  ఒక వ్యక్తి  ఒక పచ్చ జెండా పట్టుకొని ఉన్న ఫోటో ఒకటి సోషల్ మీడియాలో షేర్ చేయబడుతోంది. ఇటీవల కర్ణాటకలో జరిగిన అసెంబ్లీ ఎన్నికల్లో కాంగ్రెస్ విజయం సాధించిన నేపథ్యంలో  ఈ  పోస్టు షేర్ చేయబడుతోంది. దీని వెనుక ఉన్న నిజానిజాలు ఏంటో ఈ ఆర్టికల్ ద్వారా తెలుసుకుందాం.
క్లెయిమ్: ఈ ఫొటోలో కనిపిస్తున్నది పాకిస్థాన్ జాతీయ జెండా.
ఫాక్ట్(నిజం): ఇది పాకిస్థాన్ దేశపు జాతీయ జెండా కాదు. ఇది కేవలం మతపరమైన జెండా. కావున పోస్టులో చేస్తున్న క్లెయిమ్ తప్పు.
పోస్టులోని ఈ ఫోటో కర్ణాటకలో తీసినదే అయినా, అందులో కనిపిస్తున్న జెండా పాకిస్థాన్ దేశానిది కాదు అని మా పరిశోధనలో తెలిసింది.
మొదటిగా, ఈ ఫోటో వెనుక ఉన్న వాస్తవాలు ఎంటో తెలుసుకోవటానికి, దాన్ని ఉపయోగించి ఇంటర్నెట్లో రెవెర్స్ ఇమేజ్ సెర్చ్ చేసాము. వచ్చిన ఫలితాల్లో ఒక ట్వీట్‌లో పోస్టులో ఉన్న ఫోటోకు చెందిన వీడియో ఉంది, అందులో ఉన్న వివరణ ఈ సంఘటన కర్ణాటకలోని భత్కల్‌లో జరిగింది అని సూచిస్తుంది.
Video 1 – Islamic Flag at Bhatkal, Karnataka.
Video 2- In front of the Police  'Pakistan Zindabad' Belagavi, Karnataka,
Video 3- Kannada News about it.
CONgress hasn't even sworn in yet.
Modi did this too with his appeasement. Oh wait, why didn't they do this during BJP rule? pic.twitter.com/fyw4Ag5o0w
దీన్ని క్లూగా తీసుకుని ఇంటర్నెట్లో సంబంధిత కీ వర్డ్స్ ఉపయోగించి ఈ ఫొటోకు సంబంధించిన మరింత సమాచారం కోసం వెతకగా, ఈ సంఘటన నిజంగానే భత్కల్ టౌనులో జరిగినట్లు తెలిసినది. ఇటీవల కర్ణాటకలో జరిగిన అసెంబ్లీ ఎన్నికల్లో కాంగ్రెస్ తరపున పోటీ చేసి భత్కల్-హొన్నావర్ నియోజకవర్గ MLAగా నెగ్గిన మంకాల్ వైద్య’ని ఆహ్వానిస్తూ భత్కల్ టౌనులో చేపట్టిన ఒక ర్యాలీలో తీసిన చిత్రం అని తెలిసింది (ఇక్కడ మరియు ఇక్కడ).
ఈ ర్యాలీలో ఎగురవేసిన పచ్చ జెండా పాకిస్తాన్ దేశ జండా కాదని ఉత్తర కన్నడ జిల్లా SP విష్ణువర్ధన్ N తెలిపినట్టు వార్తా భారతి పత్రిక తమ కథనంలో పేర్కొనింది. అసలు ఈ సంఘటనకు సంబంధించి ఎటువంటి కేసు నమోదు కాలేదని ఆయన తెలిపారు. ‘ఇది మతపరమైన జెండా,  పాకిస్థాన్ జెండా కాదు. మేము దానిని ధృవీకరించాము. మతపరమైన అశాంతిని సృష్టించే ఎలాంటి తప్పుదారి పట్టించే సమాచారాన్ని షేర్ చేయవద్దని మేము సోషల్ మీడియా వినియోగదారులకు అభ్యర్థిస్తున్నాము’ అని వార్తా భారతితో SP విష్ణువర్ధన్  అన్నారు.
ఈ ర్యాలీకి సంబంధించిన ఓ వీడియో కథనంలో, పచ్చ రంగు జెండాలతో పాటు, కాషాయ రంగు జెండాలని కూడా కొందరు పట్టుకొని ఊపడం మనం చూడవచ్చు.
పాకిస్థాన్ జెండాకు వైరల్ అవుతున్న జెండాకు తేడా ఉంది.  రెండీటీలోని మధ్యభాగంలో నెలవంక మరియు ఒక నక్షత్రం గుర్తులు ఉంటాయి. కానీ, పాకిస్థాన్ జండాలో ఒక మూలాన నిలువుగా కొంత భాగంలో తెల్ల రంగు ఉంటుంది. ఈ రెండిటి మధ్య ఉన్న వ్యత్యాసాన్ని మీరు కింద గమనించవచ్చు.
చివరిగా, ఈ ఫొటోలో కనిపిస్తున్న జండా పాకిస్తాన్ దేశ జెండా కాదు.


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There is a general ban on flights over Kaaba due to religious reasons; Kaaba is not at the centre of the earth - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 11, 2022
A post is being widely shared on social media claiming that birds and airplanes cannot fly over Kaaba in Mecca. The post even claims that the Kaaba is at the centre of the earth. Let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Birds and Airplanes cannot fly over Kaaba in Mecca.
Fact: Birds and Airplanes can fly over Kaaba in Mecca. There is a ban on flights over Kaaba due to religious reasons and not any scientific reasons. The ban on flying over Mecca is to not disturb the pilgrims and to respect the holy place. Helicopters do hover around Mecca to monitor the safety of pilgrims. Kaaba is located near the centre of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and is considered a sacred place on earth by Muslims. Earth is an irregularly shaped ellipsoid, and Kaaba is just a point on the circumference of that earth. To claim that Kaaba is at the centre of the Earth is logically incorrect. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Flights over Kaaba in the Saudi city of Mecca are banned for religious reasons and not due to any scientific reasons. According to Anti-Rumours Authority, a media outlet in Saudi Arabia, the ban on flying over Mecca is to not disturb the pilgrims and to respect the holy place.
When we searched online, we found several news reports which say that during an emergency, helicopters hover around Mecca to monitor the safety of pilgrims. A few pictures of Helicopter near Mecca can be seen in those reports.
When a similar claim about flying being banned over the Kaaba because of some ‘magnetic attraction’, AFP had written a fact-check disputing the claim. They reached to an expert named Julien Aubert, who said, “Scientists have not found any magnetic anomalies which are particular to Mecca. Magnetic disturbances do not prevent an airplane from flying.”
We could not find any credible evidence online which say that birds cannot fly over Kaaba in Mecca. We found several visuals on social media which show birds flying over the Kaaba. There is no scientific evidence which can possibly prevent birds from flying over the Kaaba in Mecca.
Kaaba is located near the centre of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and is considered a sacred place on earth by Muslims. Earth is an irregularly shaped ellipsoid, and Kaaba is just a point on the circumference of that earth. To claim that Kaaba is at the centre of the Earth is logically incorrect.
To sum it up, there is a general ban on flights over Kaaba due to religious reasons; Kaaba is not at the centre of the earth.


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There isn't a direct cause-and-effect link between consuming sugar and diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, or ADHD - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 29, 2024
Multiple posts (here and here) are being shared on social media linking adverse health conditions with sugar consumption. The posts claim that Sugar is linked to ADHD in infants and conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s, glaucoma, skin ageing, insomnia, and diabetes in adults. Excess sugar may contribute to cancer, and its addiction is eight times stronger than cocaine. Let’s verify the claim made by these posts.
Claim: Sugar is linked to ADHD in infants and conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s, glaucoma, skin aging, insomnia, and diabetes in adults. Excess sugar may also contribute to cancer.
Fact: Overconsumption of sugar may cause insomnia, ageing, and cavities. However, these posts oversimplify the connection between sugar and diseases, wrongly suggesting that sugar directly causes conditions like cancer, ADHD, glaucoma, and Alzheimer’s. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
On performing relevant keyword searches, we found that there is no conclusive evidence that shows sugar causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. There is scant evidence suggesting that sugar intake during the prenatal stage might contribute to hyperactivity symptoms, in children with ADHD. However, there is no direct cause-and-effect connection between the two variables and those without the condition.  Studies have indicated that children with ADHD may tend to consume higher amounts of sugar, rather than suggesting that sugar consumption itself causes ADHD.
Compared to individuals without diabetes, those with diabetes face a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In Alzheimer’s, abnormal proteins accumulate to create plaques and tangles in the brain inducing oxidative stress. Also, as per reports while excessive sugar consumption can lead to health issues like obesity and diabetes, there’s no direct evidence of sugar causing dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Further, no evidence shows that sugar consumption makes cancer cells grow faster or causes cancer as sugar is not a carcinogenic substance. However, over-consumption of sugar, particularly added sugars in processed beverages and foods, can contribute to obesity which is an important risk factor for cancer (here and here).
Diabetes affects the body’s sugar processing, marked by insulin resistance, where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or respond to it effectively. Insulin resistance may cause elevated blood sugar levels. While having sugar in the blood doesn’t necessarily indicate diabetes, elevated blood sugar is a defining characteristic of the disease.
On subsequent research, we found that diabetes-induced glucose imbalances can also harm blood vessels in the eyes. Consequently, diabetes is linked to a higher risk of developing glaucoma. While a study found a link between glucose levels in the eye fluid and blood sugar levels, the idea that having sugar in your eyes causes glaucoma oversimplifies the condition and its causes.
As per studies, high sugar consumption can lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the skin. These compounds can contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, proteins responsible for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, leading to premature ageing. Additionally, studies have found a significant link between higher consumption of added sugars and lower sleep quality. Also, tooth decay happens when acid produced by bacteria in plaque attacks the enamel and dentine of the teeth, leading to the formation of holes or cavities. This acid is generated when sugar interacts with the bacteria in plaque, gradually eroding the enamel and causing tooth decay.
To sum up, there isn’t a direct cause-and-effect link between consuming sugar and diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, or ADHD.

created: February 29, 2024


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There were neither 81,000 Muslim rapists nor were 84,374 rapes reported during 2016 - 2018 in India - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 12, 2019
A post is being shared on Facebook with a claim that 84,374 rapes were reported in India between 2016-2018 and that 81,000 rapists were Muslims. Let’s try to analyze the authenticity of the claim made in the post.
In India, between 2016-2018, 84,374 rapes were committed and 81,000 rapists were muslims.
Fact: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has not yet released the 2018 data. Also, NCRB does not categorize the data on the accused or convicted based on religion. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) releases the year-wise data of crimes that are committed in India. Recently, they released the ‘Crime in India – 2017‘. They haven’t released the 2018 report as yet, but the post talks about the number of rapes in 2018. So, the numbers shown in the post are not true.
Also, NCRB mentions the religion of neither the victim nor the offender in the data it releases for any crimes including rapes.
The number of rapes reported in 2016 and 2017 can be seen here.
To summarize, there is no truth in the information that 84,374 rapes were reported in 2016 – 2018 and 81,000 rapists were Muslims.
Did you watch our new Episode of the DECODE series?

created: December 12, 2019


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These 132 Pakistani Hindus acquired Indian citizenship before the introduction of the CAA - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 17, 2023
A social media post claims that after implementing the CAA, 132 Hindu doctors from Pakistan have been registered as full-time medical practitioners and that they obtained Indian citizenship because of the CAA. The post further shares a screenshot of a news clip in support of the argument. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim:  132 Hindu doctors who came from Pakistan obtained Indian citizenship because of the CAA, and have been registered as full time medical practitioners.
Fact: Firstly, the central government has not yet framed rules under the CAA. Hence, it unlikely that these 132 Pakistanis acquired the Indian citizenship under the CAA, as claimed. Further, the news article referred in the post mentioned that some of them have come to India in 2000s and acquired the Indian citizenship in 2016, before the introduction of CAA. Lastly, as per Citizenship Act of 1955, not just a Pakistani but any other national, belonging to any religion could acquire the Indian citizenship, provided they follow the due process prescribed by the act. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
While it is true that 132 migrant Pakistani Hindu doctors have recently cleared the NMC exam and will now be able to practice medicine in India,  these people however, came to India much before and not after the introduction of CAA, as claimed in the viral post.
Firstly, although the CAA bill was passed by both houses and received assent from the President in December 2019, the central government has not yet framed rules under the act. Without the rules being framed, the Act cannot be implemented, thus contradicting the viral claim. According to reports recently in January 2023, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has requested another six-month extension to frame the rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
Further, the Time of India news article referred to in the viral post itself mentions that a few of these doctors arrived in India in the early 2000s and obtained Indian citizenship in 2016.
This implies that these migrants could have acquired Indian citizenship by the registration and naturalization process, prescribed in the Citizenship Act of 1955 (here & here). Moreover, as per the 1955 act, not just a Pakistani but any other national, belonging to any religion could acquire Indian citizenship, provided they follow the due process, prescribed by the Citizenship Act, 1955.
To sum it up, these 132 Pakistani Hindus acquired Indian citizenship much before the introduction of the CAA.