The Press Information Bureau Fact Check Unit on Saturday (March 7) issued a clarification rejecting rumours circulating on social media about the creation of a new Union Territory (UT) in eastern India.
Several posts on platforms such as X claimed that the central government was considering carving out a new UT comprising districts from Bihar and West Bengal, particularly in areas located near the strategically important Siliguri Corridor.
Responding to these claims, the PIB Fact Check Unit posted screenshots of the misleading posts and categorically labelled the information as false.
In its statement on X, PIB wrote: “Social media posts are claiming that the Government is planning to create a new Union Territory comprising districts from Bihar and West Bengal near the Siliguri corridor. #PIBFactCheck. This claim is #Fake.”
🚨 Fake News Alert
Social media posts are claiming that the Government is planning to create a new Union Territory comprising districts from Bihar and West Bengal near the Siliguri corridor.#PIBFactCheck
❌ This claim is #Fake
✅There is no such proposal under consideration… pic.twitter.com/jv8Fi9RKnF
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) March 7, 2026
The agency further clarified that there is no such proposal currently being examined by the Government of India.
Along with debunking the viral posts, the Press Information Bureau urged people to rely only on verified information and official announcements.
The PIB statement added: “As of now, there is no such proposal under consideration by the Government of India. Always verify information from official sources before sharing.”
The advisory reflects the government’s increasing effort to counter misinformation circulating online, particularly on topics related to national security, territorial administration, or sensitive geopolitical areas.
The rumour gained traction partly because it referenced the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch of land in northern West Bengal that connects mainland India with its northeastern states.
Often referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck,” the corridor is a critical strategic and logistical link for India. It lies close to the borders of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China, making it one of the most geopolitically sensitive regions in the country.
Because of its strategic importance, any speculation regarding administrative changes or territorial restructuring in the region tends to attract significant public attention.
However, the PIB clarification indicates that no administrative restructuring involving districts from Bihar and West Bengal is being considered at present.
India presently has eight Union Territories, each administered directly by the central government, though some have elected legislatures.
The most recent administrative changes occurred in:
1. 2019, when the former state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
2. 2020, when Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged to form the single Union Territory Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Apart from these, India’s other Union Territories include Delhi, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
The clarification from the Press Information Bureau comes amid rising concerns about misinformation on social media platforms.
The PIB Fact Check Unit regularly monitors viral posts and intervenes when misleading claims involve government policies, administrative decisions, or national security issues.
Officials have repeatedly urged citizens to cross-check viral claims with official government channels before sharing them, especially when the information involves territorial changes or sensitive strategic locations.
