Fact Check: AI-Generated Video Falsely Claims Government Decided to Abolish Provinces
असार ३, २०८३ १५:५८
Kathmandu. A viral video circulating on social media claiming that the government has decided to abolish the provincial structure is false. The video shows Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) and Home Minister Sudhan Gurung allegedly announcing the abolition of provinces and stating that the dedicated funds would be used for national development. The content has been widely shared across multiple platforms.
A fact-check by the Techpana Fact-Check Desk has confirmed that both the video and the claims made within it are fabricated. The video was created using Google AI tools by manipulating speech and facial features of the Prime Minister and Home Minister to spread misleading information.
Claim
On June 15 at 6:20 a.m., the Facebook page ‘New Nepal Campaign’ posted a video with the caption, “What do you think about Balen Shah’s decision to abolish the provinces?”
In the video, Nepal’s national symbol is visible in the background, while Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) and Home Minister Sudhan Gurung appear in the foreground.
The video features an audio clip in Balen’s voice stating: “Hello everyone. We have decided to abolish all provinces and declare the country as one single nation. This way, all citizens will be included in one place, and the nation's expenses will also be saved. We can invest the saved money in other development works. If you like our decision, please give this video a like and a share, comment your reactions, and don’t forget to follow our page. Thank you! Jai Nepal.”
By the time this report was prepared, the video had been viewed more than 1.5 million times, received over 93,000 reactions, more than 8,000 comments, and was shared over 7,000 times. Check out the original video, recorded video, and screenshots.
Investigation
The same video was also found to be shared on the Facebook page ‘Utm dai1’. Posted on June 15 at 7:14 a.m., the caption read, “How do you all feel about Balen Shah's decision to take action against the province?”
As of the time of reporting, the post had received more than 1,100 reactions, 154 comments, 208 shares, and over 9,500 views. Check out the original video and screenshots.
A detailed review of the video showed inconsistencies in the background, particularly in the Nepal emblem, where the phrase “Mother and Motherland are greater than Heaven” appeared unclear and distorted, with unreadable text. These irregularities suggested possible AI manipulation.
The video was then analyzed using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation, which concluded that both the audio and video were AI-generated.
It was further verified using Google SynthID detection tools, which indicated that the entire 28-second clip was created using AI.
Following this, an additional verification was conducted to determine whether any government decision had been made regarding the abolition of provinces. Keyword searches such as “government abolishing province,” “province abolition decision,” “constitutional amendment province abolishment,” and related terms were conducted on Google Advanced Search and across platforms including Facebook, X, TikTok, and Instagram.
Official social media accounts of Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Home Minister Gurung were also reviewed, along with cabinet-related announcements. However, no credible evidence or official statement was found indicating any decision to abolish the provinces, nor was any such report published by reliable media outlets.
Several media reports have discussed the constitutional process required for abolishing provinces. An article titled “The Two-Thirds Maze: Province Abolition Impossible” published on March 31, 2024, under the byline of Arun Baral in Khabarhub, explains that provincial abolition cannot be achieved solely through a two-thirds parliamentary majority and requires consent from at least four provincial assemblies.
Similarly, a report published by Clickmandu on March 9, 2026, titled “Can the Rastriya Swatantra Party Amend the Constitution and Abolish Provinces?” notes that abolishing provinces would require mandatory approval from provincial assemblies.
The report states: “Article 274 (4) of the Constitution requires the consent of the concerned provincial assembly for any changes in provincial boundaries or amendments related to Schedule-6 (Rights of Province). In the absence of RSP in the provincial assemblies, there will be both legal and political challenges in managing the province’s structure.”
The ‘New Nepal Campaign’ Facebook page spreading false information via AI
At present, the Facebook page ‘New Nepal Campaign’, which shared the viral video, has around 47,000 followers and was created approximately two months ago (May 4, 2026). The page regularly produces AI-generated content linking current issues in Nepal with fabricated statements attributed to various leaders.
The page has published multiple AI-generated videos making it appear as though Prime Minister Balendra Shah is speaking, and Home Minister Sudhan Gurung is commenting on political matters. It has also circulated fabricated AI videos showing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi making remarks on sensitive issues such as Limpiyadhura and Kalapani. Similarly, AI-generated content has been created to depict statements from figures including Harka Sampang, Gyanendra Shahi, and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun.
Claim
The government decided to dissolve the provinces.
Claimants
Social media users including ‘New Nepal Campaign’ and ‘Utm dai1’.
Facts
The 28-second video circulating on social media was confirmed to be AI-generated. Verification using tools such as Google SynthID and Hive Moderation confirmed that both the audio and visual components of the video were created using artificial intelligence.
The Nepalese national symbol visible in the background of the video also appears to be distorted and unclear. There is no official statement from the Government of Nepal, the Prime Minister’s Office, or Parliament indicating any decision to abolish the provincial structure. Likewise, no credible media outlet has reported such a decision. According to Article 274 of the Constitution of Nepal, changes to provincial structure or boundaries require not only a two-thirds majority in the federal parliament but also the consent of the concerned provincial assemblies. No such process has been initiated by the government.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming that the government has decided to abolish the provincial structure is AI-generated and false. No such decision has been made by the Government of Nepal.
Feedback
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पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: असार ३, २०८३ १५:५८
