Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena declared the establishment of five additional districts in Ladakh, expanding the total count from two to seven. The new districts, namely Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass, aim to enhance local governance, infrastructure, and tourism development. This move is intended to decentralize administration and address longstanding demands for improved governance in remote border areas.
Nubra, known for its strategic location and high altitude, will focus on developing tourism infrastructure. Sham district will prioritize strengthening local governance, while Changthang aims to preserve ancient tribes and enhance border infrastructure. Zanskar will concentrate on improving road connectivity and boosting tourism, and Drass will focus on infrastructure development and supporting the Army base due to its strategic significance.
The initiative’s primary goal is to bring governance closer to residents in remote regions, create job opportunities, and enhance public service delivery. The decision to create these new districts was initially sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in August 2024 and officially implemented in April 2026. These changes aim to cater to the unique requirements of the diverse areas within the sparsely populated Union Territory of Ladakh.
Representative bodies Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have been actively advocating for statehood, inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, job security, and a public service commission since 2021. Activists like Chering Dorjay and Sonam Wangchuk from LAB collaborate with KDA to negotiate these demands with the Union Home Ministry. Tensions escalated in Ladakh on September 24, 2025, resulting in police firing on a violent mob engaged in arson and stone pelting, leading to casualties and injuries.
Renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act following these events and was later released on March 14 this year.
