Leh: It turned out to be a historic day for Ladakh on Monday when Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena notified the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory (UT).
The five new districts are Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass. This takes the total number of districts in the UT to seven, in addition to the existing Leh and Kargil.
Saxena made the announcement on X, describing it as a landmark moment for the region.
“A historic day for Ladakh. I have approved the notification for creation of five new districts in Ladakh, fulfilling the aspirations and long-pending demand of the people of Ladakh,” he posted.
The decision, approved by the ministry of home affairs in August 2024, “aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a prosperous Ladakh”, the LG said.
The decentralisation would strengthen grassroots governance and ensure faster service delivery to remote areas, while opening new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship, Saxena claimed, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The move comes even as the Centre prepares for a sub-committee meeting on May 22 to continue political dialogue with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). These groups have spearheaded a long-running campaign for statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to reach Leh on April 30 for a two-day visit to participate in the Sacred Exposition of Holy Buddha Relics .
The LAB has urged the Centre to take concrete steps to rebuild mutual trust ahead of his arrival.
The UT, known to be peaceful, was rocked by unprecedented violence on September 24, 2025. This violence led to the deaths of four persons and the arrest of nearly 50 people, including climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, under the National Security Act (NSA).
While Wangchuk was released on March 14 after six months of incarceration, two prior rounds of talks with the home ministry in October and February ended in a deadlock over the groups’ core demands.
“We urge the Union home minister to take the government’s initiative for meaningful constructive dialogue mentioned in the NSA revocation order of Sonam Wangchuk,” Chering Dorje Lakrook, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association said.
Wangchuk and other LAB members have called for an unconditional withdrawal of cases against 83 people arrested during the September violence, most of whom they claim are innocent.
They are also seeking compensation for the families of those killed or crippled in police firing. The organisations have appealed for a high-powered committee meeting under the home minister’s chairmanship during his stay to address the unique cultural and strategic protections the region has sought since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
